Transsexual Employees in the Workplace

SUMMARY

As the U.S. society becomes more accepting of lifestyle diversity, an increasing number of individuals, experiencing gender dysphoria, are likely to seek relief from their challenge through transformations. Although medical interventions for these transitions are improving, the expenses for the procedures are not covered by most medical plans and remain costly for the individual. The end result is that those considering gender transformation are more likely to undergo this process while they are employed. When a workplace is exposed to an individual in transition, many predictable problems are likely to surface. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) professionals will increasingly be called upon to assist transmen and transwomen to maneuver through the workplace adjustment process, and to help coworkers in their adaptation to these changes.

KEYWORDS:

• Employee assistance
• gender identity
• transitions
• transsexual

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chester J. Taranowski

Chester J. Taranowski, PhD, LCSW, CEAP, has been the Employee Assistance Coordinator at Aon Services Corporation for the last 18 years. He has recently served as the President of the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association. He received his doctorate in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his MSW from Loyola University. Dr Taranowski is a frequent speaker on topics relating to crisis response, happiness studies, and positive psychology interventions within the workplace.