“According to a report from the ‘National Transgender Discrimination Survey’ conducted by National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and National Centre for Transgender Equality, transgender are facing double the rate of unemployment of the general population. The survey also indicated that majority of them are experiencing a serious discrimination and are unable to sustain themselves.”

(Image Source: http://bitch-media.tumblr.com/post/77001864536/a-report-from-the-national-transgender)

The global scenario at workplace and work environ are changing. As per an old adage, perhaps, change is the only thing constant in any aspect of life. While there has been loads of awareness for the rights of transgenders, little has been changed when it comes to their presence and scope on work front.

The first and foremost solution to tackle this problem of disparity is to change our mindset rather than waiting for people or government to bring in some change as there goes a wise saying, “Charity begins at home.” While caste-based discrimination is being taken care of via reservations and campaigns; the issue of transgenders had been given a backseat. It’s high time that we raise awareness on this issue.

The stigma associated with being seen with a transgender or the fact that you are socializing with a transgender is immense. However, the major problem is rooted in the mind. The work places need to grow beyond the miniscule issues of gossip and “what society says” mindset. The need of the hour is to open up our minds and accept the fact that they are no different from us. The point remains that a successful enterprise needperformersand they shouldn’t be judging people on factors like gender.

The biggest way to initiate such a change is to create quotas and reservations for transgender. The one fact that needs to be absorbed and appreciated is that they have madeits way into politics. Similarly, they have a right to make way into work as well. As a responsible entrepreneur, one must define some parameters to encourage them just like some companies make provisions for handicapped as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility. The aim is to promote them by giving them a chance to prove their mettle in various fields. After all, they too have the God gifted brain just like we do. Now, as humans we need to give them a chance to progress and change the definition of transgender altogether.

And, that’s not all. While we give them a chance to prosper and make a mark in society, we must also ensure that there better be no sneers and jeering comments when dealing with them. As stated earlier, the root cause of this problem lies in the mindset and could take time to wipe off. However, with little and genuine efforts, it could be removed permanently.

Most of the private sector companies (including some Fortune 100 Companies) are working towards full acceptance and inclusion and have started to cover gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.

Why your company should choose to be transgender inclusive? Some of the basic reasons are-

1. To hire and retain top talent
2. To position the company as diverse
3. To be aligned and compliant with laws and policies
4. To enhance cultural competence

Some of the “recommended policies and practices to foster a more transgender inclusive workplace” are as follows–

1. Gender Identity needs to be included in non-discrimination and non-harassment policies. Company Policies should be amended to stop ill-treatment towards trans-identified individuals in the workplace. In fact, we need to understand that transgenders are often seen begging at traffic signals and households. Instead of shunning them away, we need to understand that the root cause for the same lies in the unemployment grappling this community. The relevant authorities must tackle the issue of insufficient opportunities for transgenders to do away with incidents of begging.

A simple directive from the government announcing that transgenders will be treated at par on the work front is not enough. It needs to organize monitoring nodes to check if the same is actually being worked upon and implemented. Until this is done, organizations will never take up initiatives on their own. Appoint a person who can take care of transgender related issues. It can be in-house or an external entity that has knowledge and training and who can address these concerns.

2. While caste-based discriminations are being tackled via reservations and campaigns, the issue of transgender can be handled by raising awareness and creating quotas. The one thing we need to note here is that quotas will again lead to a situation where in other general candidates will be miffed. The government must target to make individuals more aware and accepting towards transgenders instead of blindly creating such reservations.

Removing discriminatory health insurance exclusions in addition to creating awareness and offering counseling to other employees by publishing text and video materials on Transgender Equality are essential means to such an end.

Transgender inclusion creates a respectful and professional work environment. It helps organization to maximize teamwork / productivity and become a successful diversified leader in its industry!