Sainsburys is also firm on the issue of which toilet a transsexual should use. We are lucky as we have a selection of facilities. Our experience has been that sometimes a transsexual has used the customers facilities because they wanted to feel comfortable. But if they want to use those for the staff, we fully support them. When staff have announced they are transsexual, Hart says they are asked how they would like to handle the informing of colleagues.
Some people prefer HR to let people know and others prefer to announce it themselves.
Marks and Spencer - A Gold Star Employer Marks and Spencer has had experience of four transsexuals, one of whom made the transition while working as a sales assistant on the shopfloor. Equal opportunities manager Sheena Stockdale is enthusiastic about the companys sexual minority staff. We have a lot of gay men working for us, particularly in the selection departments, They are creative, highly capable people and we could not do without them. Stockdale has taken a proactive approach to becoming informed about gay issues. I have been to seminars and gay clubs up north and used gay people themselves as a sounding board for the issues.