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Issues with HR

Started by dapperseb, April 03, 2014, 09:04:36 PM

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dapperseb

I'm going to try and sum this up the best I can.
I've been with the same company for almost 9 months now and I love it. I love my boss and my coworkers in the department I work in. I work for a company that has several smaller departments within it, so there are a lot of different managers and supervisors doing different things. When I first started working there I had a minor issue with HR because my license didn't say male on it. I was told to use the single stall restrooms until I was legally considered male. I've never had a problem with that, I actually prefer it because the men's rooms are disgusting. Sometimes though I do use the men's rooms because there are always lines in the single restrooms, people using their phones forever, etc. I've had HR updated with my male license since a month after I started working there, so, since August. Yesterday I get called into the office and asked by a member of HR if I had "completed the process" because it "just popped in her head" that we talked back in July and she never heard anymore about whether or not my "process" was completed and she had been made aware of me using the men's. I felt insulted because I felt like she was trying to word her way around asking if I've had bottom surgery, so I just answered yes, I'm legally considered male, I updated my things several months ago. Sure, fine, end of discussion, I'm allowed to use the men's. I felt really uncomfortable with that interaction so I told my boss (who I never actually told I was trans) and we had an hour long discussion about my life, she was very understanding and accepting, she mentioned hating HR because they're lazy and uneducated. So I get home and my roommate tells me what really happened. Long story short - she was in the breakroom and over heard a man loudly complaining about a woman using the men's room and asking what gives her the right. He even went so far as to tell the people what department I work for. He also rides my bus and said next time he sees me on the bus he's gonna have to teach me a lesson. She filed an official complaint about it with our boss. I'm obviously upset because I have no idea how he even knows, it can't be because I don't pass, because I do. I go into work this morning and try to have a discussion with HR again about how they handled the situation. I was not able to get a word in otherwise and the woman kept saying they "took care of it" and they "don't tolerate that behavior" and she even told me one of the owners of the company had to come talk to the man and everyone involved and if it happened again they would lose their jobs. I asked if I could make a suggestion so I mentioned to her about how the employee harassment seminar doesn't cover trans issues, but the supervisor/manager one does, and I think that should be changed. She argued with me for a few minutes about how it is covered, but I told her that when I went to one I got really upset that there were no trans issues covered, she wouldn't listen. She also told me that basically my roommate lied to me about what she heard. She also told me we all just needed to get over it and move on. I told my best friend what happened in there and she told me that all of the owners of the company were out because it was one of their birthdays. It's a family owned business and she works in the same office as them so she knows these things. So basically HR lied about that. I ended up finding out who the guy was and found out he's one of the managers, which explains why he didn't get fired. I've also never spoken to him, even briefly.

I live in the state of Florida where it's legal to fire LGBT people for no reason, though my company has different policies, I think the state laws rule that out. I want to know what I should do about this situation. I'm embarrassed and sad over all of this because besides HR and this guy, I love the company. My job is perfect for me. My boss is amazing. I just don't want to pursue it further and get fired. I'm sorry this is so long but once I got started it was hard to stop and I felt I should cover everything.
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Jessica15

If I were you, I'd probably just try to keep a low profile and not rock the boat, so to speak.
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Ms Grace

If you pass as male, maybe that guy was actually referring to a cis woman who had ducked in to use the men's? Just a thought. Jeeze, this bathroom segregation thing is such a cis gendered obsession, they really should get therapy.  :-\

Sorry, I can't offer much help about your situation, my rights around stuff like that are much better covered in Australia where I live.
Grace
----------------------------------------------
Transition 1.0 (Julie): HRT 1989-91
Self-denial: 1991-2013
Transition 2.0 (Grace): HRT June 24 2013
Full-time: March 24, 2014 :D
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Rainbow Brite

Speaking as a person who has been the subject of Discrimination and harassment and even have an EEOC case against HR, I can tell you this. Most companies dont cover transgender discrimination in their classes. And in a way, they shouldn't have to, because it now falls under sex discrimination under Title VII. However, I do think that people need to know that Gender identity, Presentation, etc. is covered by this so it is not okay to give someone who has a different gender identity,etc. a hard time.

Be warned though, become a headache for HR then you may end up looking for another job. You should make every effort to keep them on your side, unless THEY are causing you problems too.

Cummins, the Engine manufacturing giant is a big leader in this area. They are very transgender friendly. Their policy is, use the bathroom of the gender you are presenting as. It's part of why I want to get on with that company.

Anyway, Good Luck *huggles* You're always going to run into some bigot somewhere. Sadly they haven't gone extinct.
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