When you’re transitioning as a trans person in your workplace, it can be easy to feel like you’re the only one. But that’s not true! In fact, many other trans people go through their transitions at work and have found success. Here are some tips on how to come out trans at work and create an inclusive and supportive environment for yourself or someone else who is transitioning at work:
Consider your own transition plan
As you consider a transition plan, it is important to think about your own goals. Do you want to come out at work? Will you transition medically and socially or only socially? Are there other things that are more pressing for you right now, such as taking care of a sick parent or caring for a family member who has special needs? These are all valid concerns, and it’s important to prioritize your own needs first when developing an actionable plan.
Explore the best way to transition at work
The first step in creating a trans-inclusive workplace is to talk with your employer. Depending on how comfortable you are with the situation, this conversation could happen at any point during the process.
Talk about what you would like to do, whether it’s going by a different name or wearing certain clothing items. Ask for help from your boss in making the transition as smooth as possible for yourself and other employees.
These steps will help:
- Ask for an appointment that isn’t during work hours so there’s no chance of disrupting anyone else’s schedule.
- If possible, meet somewhere outside of the office where there are fewer distractions from phone calls and emails that may interrupt your meeting.
Determine what you need to transition at work
First and foremost, you should determine what you need to transition at work. Do you need your name legally changed? Changes to your legal documents? Maybe just having pronouns used correctly and consistently will be enough.
If there are physical changes that need to take place, how soon do they need to happen? Will your company pay for them? Are there other benefits available that could help cover medical expenses and/or counseling sessions as part of the process?
There are many factors at play when it comes to transitioning in any workplace—but the first step is determining what those factors are for yourself.
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Come out at work
When you come out at work, you should be prepared for some reactions. Some people may feel uncomfortable or even threatened by the idea of having a transgender employee around them. Others will be supportive and try to help in any way that they can.
You’ll also want to speak with your manager before coming out at work so that he or she knows what’s going on and has time to think through how best to help support your transition without creating any problems in the office culture or workflow due to ignorance about gender identity issues on their part (or yours).
As per experts like Intuit, “Unfortunately, gay and trans rights are still under attack in courts, but there are a lot of companies, big and small, that welcome and champion transgender employees. It may seem like you can’t switch jobs or even career paths, but it is possible.”
Creating a trans-inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it will benefit your business in the long run. You’re helping create a more diverse and inclusive environment for all employees, which will result in happier and more productive workers.
