At the conclusion of President Trump’s first week back in office, HR software provider HiBob’s Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Reynolds, who identifies as trans and non-binary, didn’t mince words.

“I’m outraged. I’m scared,” they say. “I hope genuinely that none of your readers ever have to feel what it feels like for somebody to say you no longer exist.

It’s a message—which was delivered through Trump’s quick moves to unveil policies, dismantle programs and use anti-trans rhetoric—that likely has many transgender employees and allies on edge. And HR leaders need to be attuned to how these workers could be feeling, experts note.

“Recognize that, for many of your employees, this is not business as usual,” Reynolds advises HR. “This week was not a normal one in the calendar.”

Support transgender employees by leading with empathy

Among the executive orders Trump issued on his first day was one titled: “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which states there are only two sexes. Seen as a direct target on the rights of transgender Americans, the order is expected to impact everything from the issuance of passports and visas to the use of restrooms in federal properties and housing of federal inmates. It also declared that federal funds could not be used to “promote gender ideology,” which suggests far-reaching implications that are yet to be seen. Earlier this week, Trump announced an order that experts say will likely lead to a ban on transgender individuals in the U.S. military.

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Source : https://hrexecutive.com/after-trumps-first-week-how-hr-can-support-transgender-employees/