Brief status overview:
Had top surgery, on T over 1 year, name and gender marker on ID are now correct. Managed to get a (sadly very underpaid) job without disclosing to anyone.

So this isn't urgent. I have time to think this through and look at more options.
I'm looking into career options and a problem I'm running into for ones I'm interested in (coincidentally male-dominated fields) is the pre-employment physical. Between a hernia exam and a possibly observed urine catch I'm not seeing how stealth would be remotely possible.

I certainly don't want to pursue one of these careers only to have boss/coworkers/etc. know about my medical condition (I have 0% confidence that they would still consider me a man after that, and that's not getting into the potential safety issue - this is NOT one of the more accepting parts of the country to be trans in).

I want to pursue a well-paying career but can't face the prospect of being outed to a potential employer by the pre-employment physical. This is holding me back in a big way, I'll never be able to afford bottom surgery at my current pay and funny thing is, even if I already HAD bottom surgery, I'm not sure it would prevent the physical from outing me (because of the hernia exam).

Any guys here successfully navigated this type of thing and obtained a job in a male-dominated field (truck-driving, construction, trades, etc.) without their potential boss and/or coworkers knowing you're trans?

Or do I need to give this up and set my sights on a less physical job like... accounting?

From my experience with pre-employment requirements, and working in the same office space as my company's HR department, urinalysis and other such tests are performed at a medical office not associated with your employer. They just send you to a specific place to get it done, and pay for it (usually), the same as when an athlete needs a physical done before playing a sport (although in that instance they don't pay for it). It's your responsibility to go in and get it done, or else you don't get the job.

For reference, I work at a fairly successful autobody repair shop (as an accounting assistant), which is a male-dominated workplace for sure. We send our prospective employees to a clinic under our company's on-the-job insurance provider.

It is not likely that you will have the pre-employment physical in the presence of any bosses or co-workers.  More likely that you need to show up at a designated clinic with the employer's paperwork, and then you and the attending physician can figure out confidentially how to check off the necessary items.  Set your sights on a job that suits YOU...not your worries!  Good luck!

Is it that simple? I don't know why I was thinking these places (job training centers, etc.) would have their own pet doctor in a little room in the same building.

I know my paranoia is showing. Worst case scenario, on the chance the doctor at the clinic is buds with the boss...
According to what I can find online, it would be a HIPAA violation for the doctor to blab to the potential employer about my trans status (since it isn't remotely medically relevant to my ability to perform any of the jobs I'm looking at). Even an enormous bigot of a doctor probably wouldn't be real keen on a huge fine and possible jail time, right?

When I had a pee test I went to a local hospital. The nurse sent me in the bathroom by myself to pee in a cup. You just aren't allowed to flush.

Quote from: Alexthecat on July 19, 2015, 09:06:54 AM
When I had a pee test I went to a local hospital. The nurse sent me in the bathroom by myself to pee in a cup. You just aren't allowed to flush.

I'm familiar with this kind of test protocol. It's the observed urine test that's freaking me out. Apparently some places do this to prevent (or at least make it much more complicated) to give a fake sample.

Frankly whether the doctor would out me or not, if they demand I urinate in front of someone I guess I'm not getting that job.

Quote from: blink on July 19, 2015, 09:17:17 AM
I'm familiar with this kind of test protocol. It's the observed urine test that's freaking me out. Apparently some places do this to prevent (or at least make it much more complicated) to give a fake sample.

Frankly whether the doctor would out me or not, if they demand I urinate in front of someone I guess I'm not getting that job.

Doctor confidentiality should keep them from spilling the beans on anything that's not your UA results. Observed would just mean a doctor or nurse would make sure you're not using urine that's not yours, e.g. had someone clean pee for you, so you'd show up clean. That wouldn't mean your boss gets to watch you pee.

And yeah, it really is that simple, to answer your earlier question. No place is going to keep a "pet doctor" on hand, that would be super expensive. They just have you do it at a nearby clinic or hospital with that sort of setup (which most have). You'll do fine, just worry about finding a job you want.

Don't forget that the privacy sections of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) apply to people who have been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria. As long as it doesn't impact your job requirements, your past medical history is confidential and you have the right to sue if it is disclosed to any unauthorized people.

You may need to remind people of that. Don't be afraid to do so. Knowing and affirming your rights is key in this kind of situation.

Just went through an employment drug screening.  The independent clinic was set up for them, including their restrooms.  No observed urine sample.  I haven't heard about anyone watching anyone else pee, in a medical context. Where might this occur?

Quote from: FriendsCallMeChris on July 19, 2015, 04:13:12 PM
Just went through an employment drug screening.  The independent clinic was set up for them, including their restrooms.  No observed urine sample.  I haven't heard about anyone watching anyone else pee, in a medical context. Where might this occur?

You know, I feel like if it were observed it'd just be to confirm that urine is from the patient, but logically they might also mean "observed" as in taken at the clinic, "observed" by a physician in the sense that it was just at the clinic instead of bringing urine in from home, as odd as that sounds. Either way, the OP should be fine, and trans status is unlikely to be disclosed.

Quote from: HelenW on July 19, 2015, 11:05:48 AM
Don't forget that the privacy sections of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) apply to people who have been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria. As long as it doesn't impact your job requirements, your past medical history is confidential and you have the right to sue if it is disclosed to any unauthorized people.

You may need to remind people of that. Don't be afraid to do so. Knowing and affirming your rights is key in this kind of situation.

Thanks. I plan on doing exactly that when such a time comes. Seeking specifics on exactly who is authorized to know what, reminding any medical personnel that this is a HIPAA issue, etc. And noting down date, place, and names.

As for where this "observed" urine catch happens and what exactly that means, a few guys on a forum for a specific trade discussed this process. The "observed" is literal. Plenty of cis guys aren't keen on this, but it's a whole new level of nope for me with the current state of what's down there.

I wonder how well it would go over to demand a hair test instead. I'd be willing to pay any difference in cost.