HR staff may also be in the position of interviewing a post-operative transsexual, although they may not know the interviewee is transsexual, and the question of disclosure arises. Some transsexuals will not disclose the fact that they are transsexual, as it is irrelevant to the job. If a transsexual is employed and does not disclose, their privacy can sometimes be compromised because of gossip among payroll staff. A person's National Insurance number identifies their birth sex and former name. Any name changes are listed only as aliases - a situation highlighted recently in Coronation Street where Hayley Patterson's payshp records her name as Harold.
Attention needs to be paid to other details too.
One firm took on a transsexual employee, knowing she was transsexual, and gave her all the perks and benefits to which every employee was entitled, including private health insurance. But, although unwittingly, it had put itself in the position of being sued because the insurance company excluded transsexuals from its cover. If an employer does not provide its staff with valid insurance it lays itself open to legal action. To help with such situations, a government consultation document is now being revised which will give employers guidelines on dealing with transsexual staff. It is expected to come out next year.