Declining career prospects as “transition loss”? On the career development of transgender employees

This chapter provides an overview of the specific issues that trans-persons face in their career development. For many transgender employees, the decision to initiate their transition brings with it a potential career setback, and, quite often, a subsequent ongoing socio-economic decline. In this chapter the current state of research on this issue is discussed alongside the case of Andrea, a trans-women, who had her transition while she held a management position in a multinational. Her case shows the enormous personal strength and/or the substantial and consequent organizational support needed to ensure that a transition does not lead to the end of the employee’s career. Based on these insights, practical implications for both individuals who are about to begin, or who are within their transition, and their employers are discussed, and several recommendations for both are derived.