It has been my experience, especially when working for Government agencies, that interactions with Human Resource Departments (HR) usually take one of two directions. If you are called into a meeting with HR, you are either going to have a very good, or very bad day.
I’ve been putting off the conversation with the HR team at my employers for a few weeks. it was obvious that an early communication with them about my planned transition was going to be essential for success, but I had no idea how I was going to approach the task.
Sharing something so deeply personal with a complete stranger whilst their finger hovers over a button controlling my career was a daunting prospect.
I felt that an initial, low key informal approach was going to be the best way forwards, I don’t think there is a handbook for “Managing your Gender Transition at Work, and if there is, I haven’t read it yet.
Within the organisation I work for, we utilise a software tool called “Yammer.” Although the Yammer brochure probably calls it something like “A sophisticated Social Media tool for communication and networking in a professional environment.” The bottom line is, Yammer is Facebook for the office. Yammer gave me the perfect tool for casually requesting a quick meeting with a Senior HR Manager. It felt less formal than a meeting invite and hopefully set the scene for a friendly, but formal chat.
I received a response almost immediately and after a brief discussion, a time and date was agreed. I wasn’t even phased when the suggestion came back, that rather than booking a room, perhaps we should have a walk to “Get out of the office.” This suggestion immediately made smile, being escorted from the premises by HR was the last thing on my mind.
Compared to stepping out of the car in broad daylight last week, sitting in the Coffee shop waiting to share my news with HR was only slightly less stressful.
Despite never having met the HR Manager, I recognised her instantly from her Yammer profile photograph, as she entered the café. With the introductions complete, I selected a table as far away from everyone else as I could and settled in to share my story. The HR manager put me at ease instantly. It took me maybe thirty seconds to explain my planned transition and express my desire to continue working. The only noticeable reaction was a smile. I can’t imagine a scenario where this conversation could have gone better.
We chatted in a very positive fashion for a few more minutes I only just managed to maintain my composure. My emotions starting to build, mostly out of a sense of relief of having shared my story with someone exuding compassion who genuinely wants to help.
What happens next I have no idea, but I am hoping that my first experience with this team, has set the tone for further positive interactions with the Very Human Resources Division…
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