The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace [Hardcover]

Vanessa Sheridan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313365849 | ISBN-13: 978-0313365843 | Publication Date: July 8, 2009 | Edition: 1st

As The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace demonstrates, there is a strong business case for treating transgender workers with dignity. Its tips, guidelines, and policy examples will help organizations enhance the bottom line, while keeping the workplace harmonious. The most in-depth and informative volume on transgender workers ever written, the book offers useful tools, practical information, and a variety of resources that will enable business leaders and organizations to deal effectively with the transgender phenomenon. It will also help workers struggling with their identities and will give strength to those who are secure, but have yet to come out.

There is no doubt that this guide will become the leading resource for every business owner, CEO, manager, HR/EEO professional, and transgender worker. Better yet, it will improve the cultural climate and quality of life for transgender workers and the organizations that employ them, resulting in increased productivity and improved profitability.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace is an awesome resource. It has helpful information for people who are unfamiliar with transgender issues, but it's also a useful tool for those of us who know about transgender issues but want to do more as an ally."

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Queercents

"Vanessa Sheridan's comprehensive guide for employers, coworkers, and transgender individuals in the workplace marks an invaluable resource in a field where many gray, confusing areas still exist. 'Transgender' is a concept that frequently is difficult to understand, sometimes even for the transgender individual, so it is both calming and instructive to see it discussed so thoroughly and clearly as Sheridan has done. The book has explanatory chapters on being transgender; what it means for that individual, and for those sharing the same workplace; how to work with and for transgender customers; and what legal protections are currently in place for the transgender worker. It has tools for coming out at work and for organizational leaders."

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Lavender Magazine

"Sheridan has been researching, writing and speaking about transgender issues for nearly 20 years, and she has created this practical guide for managers, human resource professionals and policymakers who must deal with the increasing numbers of transgender persons entering the workplace. The author provides a list of effective tools based upon policy

examples from successful organizations that are designed to improve the cultural climate, quality of life and opportunities for these individuals. Appendices include self-quizzes, case studies and a copy of IBM's equal opportunity policy."

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Reference & Research Book News

Book Description

In 2000, three Fortune 500 companies included gender identity in their employee non-discrimination policies. Today, more than 150 have adopted such policies. State and municipal laws protecting transgender persons from discrimination are likewise enacted with increasing frequency. These numbers mark a significant cultural shift—and a notable workplace trend.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 253 pages
• Publisher: Praeger; 1st edition (July 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313365849
• ISBN-13: 978-0313365843
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vanessa Sheridan is the author of the groundbreaking business book, "The Complete Guide to Transgender in The Workplace," the first hardcover book on this leading-edge inclusion topic ever to be published by a mainstream publishing house. She is an experienced, knowledgeable, and effective business consultant, speaker, and corporate trainer on transgender issues for a wide variety of organizations, including such companies as HSBC North America, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Hennepin County Medical Center, Novations, Inc., and many others.

Vanessa has been speaking/presenting on transgender-related topics to various business, academic, social and religious organizations since 1991. Additionally, she has been a speaker/panelist and program facilitator with the University of Minnesota's Program In Human Sexuality/Transgender Program since 1995.

Vanessa is a two-time national Lambda Literary Award finalist and the author of "Crossing Over: Liberating The Transgendered Christian," the first book on the specific topic of transgender Christian spirituality ever to be released by a major publishing company (The Pilgrim Press of Cleveland, Ohio). She is also the co-author of "Transgender Journeys" with Lambda Award-winning author Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, Ph.D.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top choice for companies adding transgender to their discrimination-free polocies, November 20, 2009

By 

David N. Parker "pflagtnet" (Colfax, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace (Hardcover)

Enlightened self-interest and moral responsibility have led hundreds of cities, numerous states, and many corporations - including nearly 1/3rd of the Fortune 500 - toward expanding their employment policies to prohibit discrimination against their transgender employees. More are incorporating gender identity and expression in these policies every day. As I write this, an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is moving through Congress on its way to (hopefully) becoming law.
Writing a law or establishing a policy is not enough to generate an open and accepting workplace. In many of those places where these non-discrimination policies have been generated, one or more transgender employees have been active in creating them. Now corporate officers, managers, and employees must work together to make acceptance of and respect for transgender employees reality. The question is how - how does the company convince ALL of its employees that respect for and acceptance of their transgender coworkers is in their best interest? And how many managers even fully understand transgender and what this means to their company?
Ms. Sheridan's new book is an excellent guide. Beginning with chapters "What is Transgender?" and "Who Are Transgender People?" she goes on to explain why transgender inclusion DOES matter to your business. Several chapters deal with the restroom debate, coming out at work, benefits of transgender-specific awareness training. Her book includes a series of tools and tips for managers and human resource professionals. All these topics are covered thoroughly, often in both her own words and quotes from other referenced articles and books.
Transgender in the Workplace is written not only to educate, but also to be used as a reference. As a reviewer, I sensed some redundancy as I worked through the book, but concluded that it was or would be helpful when using the book as a reference manual. That is, I felt the redundancies were there in order that the person only referring to one or two chapters would have all the necessary information within those chapters.
This book is also useful for the transgender employee who needs to show his or her management that inclusion IS possible without excessive distraction, and that inclusion WILL lead to higher productivity. Employees who feel safe and respected are far more valuable and productive than those who must continually hide significant portions of their identity.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surveying the business case for treating transgender workers with dignity, May 17, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace (Hardcover)

The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace documents over 150 companies that have adopted gender identity into their employee nondiscrimination policies, surveying the business case for treating transgender workers with dignity. Guidelines and policy examples tell how to keep workplace harmony and offer many insights on worker relationships and identity challenges alike.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling call for fairness and inclusiveness, September 17, 2009

By 

B.J. "B. J" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace (Hardcover)

This is simply a wonderful book! Wonderfully written, organized, and researched!

To be sure, it is chock full of practical guidance and tips for the transgender in transition and her employer.

But it is so much more! It is a powerful appeal to empathy, understanding, and justice for transgender people of all sorts. It gives to all of us a sense of dignity and hope!


One of her important messages is that inclusiveness in the workplace is more than being a good corporate citizen. It is good business. Diversity stimulates creative energy for all employees. And it creates an open atmosphere that sends a positive message that all are valued for what they contribute.