Working While Transitioning

[Guest Britta9981]

I have a question. When you are transitioning and your outward appearance is changing...how readily acceptable is this in a customer service based buisness? I am asking because my partner has made a career but feels that in order to transition a career change must be in the works.

Also, does anyone know of anything that you can do from home...this way customer service is not an issue? She works in a very man dominated workplace so having a woman in the same workplace would not only be odd but raise a lot of questions. I am not trying to be sexist here in any way but in this particular field women are sales representives, receptionists, and book keepers. This is not anything that my partner would desire. In addition to this during transitioning...she is a afraid of customer's feeling uncomfortable with her. Her job requires her going inside people's house's so this could be very sensitive.

I am not trying to offend anyone here. I am just aware of the negative response the misunderstanding people may have. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks to everyone so much.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Britta.....

Hon, I don't think that anyone here will be offended...

Jobs can be a very touchy subject....

While great inroads have been made to break through the "Glass ceiling" there is still plenty of male/female split in the workplace...

And even more so with her going into people's houses if they know about the transition! That could be a sticking point.

I also work in a male industry (20 years) and have watched many of my co-workers kids grow up. I'm 14 months HRT and I've changed considerably and I'm not oficially out, though, I look way different!

I'm hopping to be accepted and continue with what I already do.

A home based business would be wonderful for her...I think that it deserves serious looking into...

My wife and I ran a business out of our home for 8 years..

But, be careful! There are a ton of "Work at Home" scams out there..

If I think of something, I will post it here or contact you by PM....OK?

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Paula ult]

Britta,

How far along in transition is your partner, i assume she is MtF, you did not mention the career that your partner is in, there are woman firefighters, police, airline pilots, truck/bus drivers, school teachers etc.

If the company she works for has an HR department look at the EEO policy and see if gender identity is listed, if not she could ask HR what the companies policy is on it. If she has worked at this job for many years it would be a shame to have to start all over, it generally takes 5 - 6 months before people start noticing something is different about us, so she could continue transitioning while still working for a long time unless she is at a point right now where she needs to come out and go full time. You said she goes into peoples homes, i am guessing she installs something, she probably only sees these people once and as long as she is professional, gets the job done and leaves i do not think that anybody is going to complain. As in any job there will be people that will be supportive, people that will not and the majority just do not care as long as it does not affect them.

I work for a computer company doing telephone support to our field techs, i telecommute from home, i have been with the same company 30 years, in all that time there was only one woman and that was when i first started in 1980, it is a male dominated career, i have had real good support from the other men in the support groups.

Paula

[Guest JKarician]

Hi Britta, I’ve worked in customer service for six years and yes, it was a challenge to transition on the job. Not to say it’s impossible, and as Paula said I would connect with the HR department if there is one available. Now I will be honest, for me going inside other people’s houses would have been too uncomfortable but I’m not your partner. I’ve unfortunately been a victim of violence while transitioning, so at least in an office environment I felt like I had some protection. It would have made me very nervous to go into a stranger’s house. But then again there is a lot to be said for confidence and attitude. Those can overcome a lot. In the first part of my transition though, I didn’t have the confidence that I do now. Maybe a career change would be a good idea for your partner. What I can say, is that it was wonderful to go to a new job and have a clean slate as a male because even though I’d been on T for a year at the old job, people still remembered those awkward months and the role I played before. I’m sure with your support you two will come to a great decision.