The Work Thread

[silverfox]

My principal just told me that we had 110 kids out today. (Our school has about 400 kiddos all told) Now, GRANTED, it's also flu season and we're getting our asses kicked by it. So maybe HALF of those are flu/genuine sickness related. So that leaves 55 kiddos that just didn't come to school because of weather.

Delayed starts are silly.

Upside, my kiddos got to watch The Magic School Bus (volcanoes) and that was fun.

[Macha]

My co-worker gave me two random pieces of chocolate today - because he'd picked them up at the store on his way to work and they had nuts in them and he can't have them, but it was still nice of him to offer them to me.

Then he, the big boss, and I got to talk about the Super Bowl/NFL for a good 20 minutes. My big boss did my first desk audit, which I passed super easy, and he's super encouraging. He asked me if I'm still liking it, which I am. He's given me a job where I can do what I'm /good/ at, and something that makes me feel good/worthwhile. The pay is still a little lame, but once they bring me on from the temp - that gets better and all the bonuses I earn between now and then come active.

[Arkandel]

I had a question for the class.

We just interviewed someone and she was pretty good so we're extending an offer. The thing is, the reason she's leaving her current job is that she's trans and her current boss has an issue with that.

Assuming she accepts our offer what's a good way to make sure she feels comfortable working with us? For example what's the best way to ensure the team members, all of whom I'm positive will have no problems whatsoever but some are also older, come from different backgrounds etc, so I want to ensure they realize they need to use the correct pronouns, etc.

I already plan to ask her directly for feedback on what we can do, but I don't want the onus to be on a new hire.

Your advice would be appreciated.

[Alamias]

@Arkandel The answer that pops into my head is just have everyone treat her like any other female employee would be treated?

[ZekeTheG33k]

@Alamias said in The Work Thread:

@Arkandel The answer that pops into my head is just have everyone treat her like any other female employee would be treated?

This.
If she is presenting as female and identifying as female. there should be no more said about it. It is not really up to you, as the employer, to announce the gender identity of the employee. So in this case, if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck, looks like a duck. It's a duck. That's the best advice I can give.

[Auspice]

@Arkandel

She's a woman.
Treat her like you would any other woman (which is like you would any valuable member of your team, I assume).

[Auspice]

Been out of work a week and a half.
Got an interview lined up for tomorrow.
Some of the tightness in my chest has eased up a little.

[Alamias]

@Auspice

[Tinuviel]

@Arkandel The only thing I can add to the above responses is of a disciplinary note. Those intentionally and/or repeatedly not complying with the new hire's gender identity wishes need to be actively punished. This is the same as any other kind of bullying or workplace harassment, and needs to be clamped down on immediately.

[TNP]

@Arkandel I'm not transgender but I do have some thoughts...

As stated, treated her exactly as any other female hire. Keep an eye on how others are reacting to her. There doesn't need to be outright hostility. Awkwardness can be uncomfortable. Also, you might ask her for some good reference sites in case any of her coworkers have questions.

[Arkandel]

@Tinuviel said in The Work Thread:

@Arkandel The only thing I can add to the above responses is of a disciplinary note. Those intentionally and/or repeatedly not complying with the new hire's gender identity wishes need to be actively punished. This is the same as any other kind of bullying or workplace harassment, and needs to be clamped down on immediately.

I'm not worried people might do or say anything intentionally. I know my team, there are no assholes on it.

What I want is make sure the wrong thing isn't said without realizing. For example someone on voicechat, without video, might hear a deeper voice and assume she's a man. Then again I don't want to make a big deal out of this either, ultimately she's just another team member.

[Tinuviel]

@Arkandel said in The Work Thread:

What I want is make sure the wrong thing isn't said without realizing.

It's going to happen. Deal with it when it does and move on. Don't make a big deal about it.

[Macha]

When your co-worker totally has your back, and even better, you can /talk/ to them and have a real sharing of ideas.

[GreenFlashlight]

@Arkandel said in The Work Thread:

I already plan to ask her directly for feedback on what we can do, but I don't want the onus to be on a new hire.

I am not trans, but in general, when someone asks me how to best show respect to me, I do not feel that I have been burdened. I feel that the other person is listening to me and taking my needs seriously, as well as dealing with me like I'm an individual rather than a homogeneous demographic.

Otherwise, I guess just make it clear that you will not tolerate transphobic behavior, but in a discreet way that doesn't make the new woman feel singled out. Maybe don't mention anything at all, and just bring the hammer down if someone breaks the rules.

[Rinel]

I mean we aren't a monolith, but pretty much all trans people just want to live their lives. Just introduce her as ms. whoever, treat her like Ms. whoever, discipline people who are transphobic. Let her know that you don't expect there to be any trouble but that you want to know if there is, because you take discrimination and bigotry seriously.

[JinShei]

For months, we worked on a plan for data storage in our dept. I worked with admin and IT to work out the best plan for storing the vast quantity of data that had blocked our drive up. All with discussion and keeping team informed.

Six months later, the new lead has tossed it all out, decided to use Teams instead of Onedrive, and not actually told anyone this, just started doing it. Instead of the carefully designed system, we are now working on three different, in a mishmash of the worst. People are using the wrong file.

Instead of the collaborative storage as designed, we are going to fragment the information and therefore reinvent the wheel, over and over.

I have no words. None. Or many.

I can't wait for her to realise that her choice has a data impact. I can't wait for admin to hear about this. I REALLY look forward to her plan to educate people who struggled with grasping cloud.

(edit to remove some identifying stuff)

[Auspice]

That is the record for quickest turnaround from interview to job offer.

Video interview at 11:30am.
Assessment test completed by about 1pm.
Job offer at 2:30pm.

Start date will be March 2nd. So I still have a few weeks of super tight finances to navigate, but I'm still breathing a little easier nonetheless!

[RightMeow]

I have vented about my job. It's had chaotic hours. It's been crazy. I've been jumping through flaming hoops only to have them douse me in kerosene and ask me to do it again. I came home last night so angry and disrespected that I was crying.

Then we sat down and discussed my job (we being my family). It was decided that funds are there and I'm going to find a low paying temp job while I apply to better ones. When I get an employment offer, I'm quitting my job. I'm going to half my salary, but money isn't worth the mental stress and the lack of a quality life.

[Auspice]

@RightMeow said in The Work Thread:

I have vented about my job. It's had chaotic hours. It's been crazy. I've been jumping through flaming hoops only to have them douse me in kerosene and ask me to do it again. I came home last night so angry and disrespected that I was crying.

Then we sat down and discussed my job (we being my family). It was decided that funds are there and I'm going to find a low paying temp job while I apply to better ones. When I get an employment offer, I'm quitting my job. I'm going to half my salary, but money isn't worth the mental stress and the lack of a quality life.

Do this. 100% do this.

I can trace back a lot of my anxiety to not doing this when I should have when I worked at Verizon. I was in a similar boat and one day, I woke up, got ready for work, and couldn't walk through the door. It was like some physical barrier was holding me back. It turned me agoraphobic for roughly six months and it was only through therapy and support of friends (and I still have a lot of lingering issues from it) that I made it through. I know a few other people from that same job who had the same thing happen to them. So please, please step away before you hit a breaking point.

[tek]

So I've been chronically under-employed for my entire working life. I hold a MA in Egyptology. Right now, I teach Latin and Ancient Egyptian language classes online to homeschooled kids. It's work, but it doesn't pay very well. I earned less than $9000 last year.

I don't do well in most traditional workplaces. A combination of autism and PTSD makes it hard for me in the workplace, and I have never had an employer who didn't find the firing me was superior than actually providing appropriate accommodations. It's not that I'm not able to work, it's that I'm never seen as hireable for positions that actually suit me or retainable in the positions I have had.

I don't know what to do. I feel useless and worthless.