The Right Thing to Do
WE TALK A LOT about the importance of authenticity. The ability to be true to yourself has been tied to higher engagement, greater workplace satisfaction, better performance, and increased overall well-being. But if your gender identity doesn’t conform to the sex you were assigned at birth, the likelihood is high that you aren’t bringing your whole self to work. The workplace is deeply unkind to transgender people. Study after study shows that they are stigmatized and discriminated against. A 2015 survey of trans individuals in the United States revealed that an appalling 77% reported taking active steps to avoid mistreatment at work, such as hiding their gender identities or quitting their jobs. Two-thirds reported negative work outcomes, such as being fired or forced to resign, not being hired for a job,…