Building A More Welcoming Workplace for TGNC Employees

Slalom employees attend a TransWorks Inclusive Workplace training.

The TransWorks Program at Chicago House focuses on empowering transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals at work, while simultaneously educating employers, to help foster workplaces that are inclusive and affirming. “Many people report that they avoid talking to their trans-identified coworkers because they are afraid to mess up pronouns or say the wrong thing,” says Cat Casey, TransWorks and Employment Manager at Chicago House. “This often leaves trans individuals feeling isolated and unwelcome in the workplace. This is just one of many issues that trans people face while being employed.”

In an effort to provide companies with the tools and knowledge needed to create more welcoming, affirming workplaces for TGNC individuals, TransWorks offers an Inclusive Workplace training. This two-hour training includes an introduction to “Gender terms 101” and the gender binary, covers legal protections for trans individuals, and discusses strategies and practices for creating a more inclusive workplace culture. Training participants also run through various workplace scenarios and case studies to put their new knowledge into practice. Each training is designed to help staff better understand how to communicate respectfully with trans individuals, recognize legal protections for trans employees, and identify and interrupt transphobia in the workplace.

In fall 2019, Slalom, a corporate partner of Chicago House, opted to host the inclusive workplace training to increase staff understanding and awareness of issues facing TGNC individuals in the workplace. As a result of this training, prior to last year’s stay-at-home order, Slalom took action to make their office restrooms gender neutral, creating a more welcoming space for TGNC co-workers.

Slalom staff feedback was enthusiastically positive. “The facilitator was extremely effective in creating a space where people felt comfortable asking questions,” said one workshop participant. “It was a provocative dialogue about the way that gender norms help and hurt us all and how that is dramatically increased for members of the trans community.”

Remarked another participant, “The education around the struggles that transgender individuals face was very insightful and eye opening to me. It was great to learn about some of the statistics to better understand the issues that are faced around finding jobs, work place environments and other issues that we will hopefully make us become more aware and make Slalom a more accepting place for transgender individuals to work.”

To host the Inclusive Workplace training at your office or place of business, contact Lynnea Karlic.