With out getting into major detail I had a visit from the VP of Human Resources for my company, I have had a complaint filed by several employees regarding my bathroom usage.  I am curious to see who else may have had similar happen and what your response has been.  Right now my bathroom privileges are in limbo and honestly I don't know how much longer I can keep holding things in. Any "relief" would be welcomed.

Threads like these always bowl me over. You have to blow the lid off this story.

Sadly, not all places have bathroom laws in place (or sadly depending on the law). My state has bathroom laws so it was quite easy for me to fight it. The best advice I think I can offer is to find out what your local laws are, and find someone to help you talk with your company. There are companies out there that can train your employer on ->-bleeped-<-.

As far as education of the employees the HR VP, site manger and myself agree that the complaining parties are not willing to be educated.  And while it seems that it is a VERY small group that are standing against me and I have a majority of support the people who are voicing their "concern" are attempting to do so in a way that make them feel like the victim.  I live in Illinois and generally the laws should be in my favor as they consider gender identity protected under sex discrimination however that seems to be mostly in "public" places and work areas seem to be a different story.

QuoteTime to FIGHT... for you RIGHT.. to POTTY!

Quote from: Penny Gurl on December 13, 2013, 06:59:36 PM
I don't know how much longer I can keep holding things in. Any "relief" would be welcomed.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 13, 2013, 07:04:03 PM
You have to blow the lid off this story.

omg lol, you girls saw the chance and took it.

well I'm doing the best to make a bad situation bearable.  I'm just looking to safely and legally use the facilities with out issue

When I had a people that had issues with me using the restroom, and it was not the majority, I just told HR and management that since they had the problem, they could use a different restroom. If they had issues with that, I told them they could speak with my attorney. Funny thing is, they didn't have any issues with that.

I'm currently drafting a reply sort of stating that.. the thing i"m worried about is that while I don't have the exact names of the people who filed the complaint I know with 99.99% accuracy who did it.  She happens to be the wife of a minister (baptist) and has a small bible group that she runs at the company.  While I'm mostly certain that the law is on my side socially she could create a horrid place to work, and since I actually enjoy my job I'm trying to avoid the situation.. BUT it may be beyond my control if they don't back down.   

I had an issue at a previous workplace, a woman complained about me using the women's bathroom immediately adjacent to my work area.. She was told she was free to use any of the other facilities in the building, but management would not support her in any ongoing complaint as it would be illegal..

in a way that was what I had mentioned to HR, to be honest I'm not even sure how this was brought up to the corp. level of things.  But it seems that the people complaining are saying that I am creating a hostile work environment just by my presence, so it seems that the company is attempting to handle things that way, when i did nothing but be present in the ladies room.  On my end it feels like I'm on the end of being sexually harassed and discriminated. I think the company is trying not to have things get out of control but I doubt that will be possible at this point. I may have to end up suing for the right to use the restroom not to mention the hostility that is being directed towards me...

If you are in the US, have you contacted the EEOC or ACLU? They might be able to help.

I haven't had the opportunity to yet.  This matter wasn't brought to my attention until late in the day Wednesday right before I had to leave to go cover a route (I work for a bus company as the billing person but on occasion I'll be used to sub drive for routes) And the next day I had to cover a wheel chair route and was in and out of meetings and today I was driving for about seven of the ten hours I was at work.  I have sent inquires into Lambda Legal, the local HRT chapter, the Transgender Law center and also the director of transgender resources at the place where I receive my medical care.  So far none have responded.

I personally have not had much luck with either LAMBDA or the TLC. That's not to say they are not good organizations, but they just haven't helped me much. But, it seems like you have so far taken the proper steps. I just hope things get resolved for you prior to them going too far.

Quote from: Penny Gurl on December 13, 2013, 10:00:55 PM
it seems that the people complaining are saying that I am creating a hostile work environment just by my presence

In Illinois the law categorizes gender identity under sexual orientation, which doesn't give me the warm fuzzies but does protect employment. 



As for your letter,

The situation is exactly like Whites in the 60s using the shiny new Civil Rights Act to claim that the presence of "those people" itself is a hostile work environment.  Point this out, but don't guess who's responsible for the complaint - it just sounds catty and doesn't help your case.  Assert that you just want to pee, you feel you have a right to that, and if there's anything else specifically you're doing that's making women uncomfortable, you want to know so you can correct yourself. 

Close with the argument that using HR's authority to "intimidate" you into either concealing your gender identity or leaving your job may be a "hostile work environment".*  Encourage HR to consult with Legal.



*(Legally speaking, a claim of a hostile work environment must prove that the employer's authority created or at least permitted the hostility.  HR might know that.  Legal certainly will.  But either way, it's better for HR to be told what to do by Legal.)

Right now it's in the legal vs HR ball park  However I have been singled out, there are two other that are transitioning at work but in different departments.

WOW i am sorry to hear that you are going through all this just to go potty. i pray that when i transition at work i will not have the problems you are. keep your head up, from several of the previous posts it sounds like that cant leagely fire you with out proof that you are cousing a hostile work enviroment and then they would have to be willing to take the blame as well. as for the religous biggetry...... try your best to just let it all slide off your back.

The EEOC has taken the position that excluding trans* people from restroom usage matching their gender identity is a form of sex discrimination.  In addition, OSHA regulations require that bathrooms be made available to employees.  So telling you to just "hold it" is not an answer.  I think it's safe to say that the way for an employer to deal with it is to tell the complaining party(ies) to feel free to walk out of the restroom if they are upset.  This seems to be the best HR practice and it seems like the best legal solution as well.