Chapter 10Establishing Policies, Practices, and Procedures
Most adults spend a significant portion of their waking hours at work. We spend so much time at work that not working in a supportive and affirming environment is a quality‐of‐life issue. Almost every adult I know works 40 or more hours a week, which doesn't include the time spent preparing for or decompressing from work. Many of us spend more time at work than we do with our families. Anything that takes up that much of our time is worth examining in detail. As we take a closer look at what work environments are like for members of the transgender community, ask yourself a few questions:
- Is my work environment safe for transgender employees? Think beyond physical safety and explore within yourself whether you think your work environment is safe from an emotional and psychological standpoint for members of the transgender community.
- Have we been active in creating an affirming space specifically for members of the transgender community, or are we wholly reliant on the absence of potentially harmful behaviors?
- Do we have clear and robust policies regarding the treatment of transgender individuals, or are we relying entirely on a generic civility policy? We must realize that both action and inaction send very clear messages.
There are some matters in which you simply cannot be neutral. You must take a stand, and failure to take a stand is a stand in and of itself. Let's jump into the dos and don'ts.
Do ensure that you ...