Discrimination in the Workplace - your thoughts . . .

litAKAtor · #1 03-05-2007, 01:35 PM

My mother and I recently had a conversation about the rights of transgendered people in the workplace and whether they are entitled to the same rights under the anti-discrimination statutes as men, women, and other protected categories. Our conversation stemmed from the recent firing of a City Manager by the City Commission in a city very close to where I live. The City Manager (who presently is a man) revealed in a news conference that he has been participating in pre-operative hormonal therapy in preparation for his pending sex change. He had plans to return as a woman, I am supposing within the next couple of months. The City Commission terminated his contract and he was fired. The reason for the termination: his status as a transgendered person, and according to the Commission, their lack of trust in his judgment. I should note that the only reason he said anything is because one of the city workers found out about the pending operation and began spreading rumors.

My mom and I had a long debate on whether the firing was appropriate . . I wanted to get the thoughts of people who are my contemporaries. Any thoughts???

skeeliteful · #2 03-05-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

My mother and I recently had a conversation about the rights of transgendered people in the workplace and whether they are entitled to the same rights under the anti-discrimination statutes as men, women, and other protected categories. Our conversation stemmed from the recent firing of a City Manager by the City Commission in a city very close to where I live. The City Manager (who presently is a man) revealed in a news conference that he has been participating in pre-operative hormonal therapy in preparation for his pending sex change. He had plans to return as a woman, I am supposing within the next couple of months. The City Commission terminated his contract and he was fired. The reason for the termination: his status as a transgendered person, and according to the Commission, their lack of trust in his judgment. I should note that the only reason he said anything is because one of the city workers found out about the pending operation and began spreading rumors.

My mom and I had a long debate on whether the firing was appropriate . . I wanted to get the thoughts of people who are my contemporaries. Any thoughts???

I would question the City Managers judgement prior to announcing that he is preparing for a sex change. If there was no lack of trust in judgement and this individual had an impeccable work record, then I believe that the termination was not appropriate. As for his status as a transgendered person, I'm sure there would be accomodations that the City would have had to make in order for him to continue his employment.

Little32 · #3 03-05-2007, 09:47 PM

I don't think that anyone undergoes this kind of surgery without much consideration, so I think that pointing this decision as a demonstration of questionable judgement seems problematic to me.
It certainly sounds like discrimnation to me particularly if, as skeeliteful says, there had been no question of his judgement prior to this annoucement.

Senusret I · #4 03-05-2007, 10:50 PM

Great topic......

In a nutshell, I believe s/he was wrongfully terminated. I'm no lawyer, but it just seems wrong.

litAKAtor · #5 03-06-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Great topic......

In a nutshell, I believe s/he was wrongfully terminated. I'm no lawyer, but it just seems wrong.

Those were my thoughts (my mother is ULTRA conservative and didn't see a problem with it - her argument - his change would interfere with the workplace and become an unneeded distraction). The problem is that as a transgendered person he/she is not protected under the anti-discrimination statutes (Title VII). Title VII protects persons from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, and national origin. Techinically he/she doesn't fall under any of those categories, so he/she doesn't have any legal protection . . . The same can be said for those who are homosexual who are terminated because of their lifestyle . . . .they technically don't fall under any protected category.

While the persons who justified the termination said that his values and morals were questionable at this point, there is something morally and ethically wrong with terminating a person NOT because their work product is poor, but because you don't agree with a personal decision they have made. . . . . .

Infamous12 · #6 03-06-2007, 11:04 AM

[QUOTE=litAKAtor;1408381]Those were my thoughts (my mother is ULTRA conservative and didn't see a problem with it - her argument - his change would interfere with the workplace and become an unneeded distraction). The problem is that as a transgendered person he/she is not protected under the anti-discrimination statutes (Title VII). Title VII protects persons from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, and national origin. Techinically he/she doesn't fall under any of those categories, so he/she doesn't have any legal protection . . . The same can be said for those who are homosexual who are terminated because of their lifestyle . . . .they technically don't fall under any protected category.

While the persons who justified the termination said that his values and morals were questionable at this point, there is something morally and ethically wrong with terminating a person NOT because their work product is poor, but because you don't agree with a personal decision they have made. . . . . .[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. If he is getting fired for his personal decision, 'an unneeded distraction' could a woman then be fired for her personal decision to get obscenely large breast implants? In both cases, the decision does not affect the actual work at hand, but only alters the person performing the task.

As long as he/she was getting the job done, I could care less whether he was a man or woman, or even a bit of both.

Little32 · #7 03-06-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

Those were my thoughts (my mother is ULTRA conservative and didn't see a problem with it - her argument - his change would interfere with the workplace and become an unneeded distraction). The problem is that as a transgendered person he/she is not protected under the anti-discrimination statutes (Title VII). Title VII protects persons from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, and national origin. Techinically he/she doesn't fall under any of those categories, so he/she doesn't have any legal protection . . . The same can be said for those who are homosexual who are terminated because of their lifestyle . . . .they technically don't fall under any protected category.

While the persons who justified the termination said that his values and morals were questionable at this point, there is something morally and ethically wrong with terminating a person NOT because their work product is poor, but because you don't agree with a personal decision they have made. . . . . .

This is interesting. I did not know that. I agree with Infamous, if people start getting fired based on personal decisions that don't affect job performance, then where does the line get drawn?

mulattogyrl · #8 03-06-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

The problem is that as a transgendered person he/she is not protected under the anti-discrimination statutes (Title VII). Title VII protects persons from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, and national origin. Techinically he/she doesn't fall under any of those categories, so he/she doesn't have any legal protection . . . .

I didn't know this either. Interesting.