Diversity and Inclusion Experience of Trans Workers: The Missing Link of Trans-Friendly Environment in Organizations

Abstract

The transgender community, one of the most marginalized communities, faces a range of discriminatory issues in workplaces and educational institutions. The study seeks to investigate the extent of organizational support ensured by the workplaces to create a transgender-friendly environment in Bangladesh. The paper opted for a mixed study and surveyed 47 trans workers using a questionnaire. The responses yielded quantitative data that was analyzed using SPSS. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions with seven respondents. The study findings showed that the discrimination and exclusion experience is negative for trans workers of Bangladeshi organizations and educational institutions. While most of the respondents felt primarily excluded in the formal setting, they feel that they have been intentionally left out when they meet their coworkers in informal or social gatherings. The outcomes of the discrimination involved forced termination and absenteeism on the ground of their non-binary gender identity. It was also found that many Bangladeshi organizations still do not want trans workers to represent them. To the best of researchers’ understanding, the past research on the transgender community’s diversity and inclusion experience in organizations is rarely covered from the developing country’s perspective. This paper attempts to fulfill the study gap. Recommendations for good practices to ensure diversity is proposed to companies. Creating a more inclusive workplace is expected to create a robust economic and social impact for developing countries like Bangladesh. Keywords: Bangladesh, Discrimination, Diversity, Inclusion, Trans workers, Trans-friendly environment, Organizations

A Social study on the Human Rights of the Trans-community of a Developing Country, Pakistan

“…J. Lee (2021) also echoed that such communities were treated with hostility and ignorance from all corners of Pakistan. Hafiz et al (2022) revealed that since the economic productivity of a developing country can enhance if the number of individuals in the workforce grows relative to the number of dependents, the inclusion of the trans-community can contribute to the country's existing demographic dividends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trans-participants shared their resilience stories, identifying how prior preparation fostered resilience; radical acceptance was a source of resilience (Aberu et al, 2021).…”

“…A more diverse workforce can be a potential source of strength for a company as through this tool, they can enhance their understanding of the diverse needs of diverse sets of customers. According to Hafiz et al (2022), such achievement can effectively predict organizational sustainability.…”

“…In addition, this social study mainly focused on the present discriminatory status and estrangement of the human rights of one of the most neglected minorities of the society, i.e., the transgender community. There was a greater volume of literature available in some areas such as employment (e.g., Hafiz et al, 2021;Hafiz et al, 2022) or social discrimination (e.g., Falak et al, 2020Ahmed et al, 2021 but topics on the rights of trans people on other areas such as housing; education; media, leisure, and sports have been relatively scarce. The future study can focus on this scope.…”

Economic and social inclusion of person with disability and transgender through skills development program of BRAC: A qualitative study

“…They are isolated from mainstream society, stigmatized, subdivided, mistreated, and marginalized (Hosain et al, 2002; Hossain, 2010; Jalil, 2012). On the other hand, transgender people in Bangladesh are looked down upon as though they are not human beings and are treated brutally only because they do not have the gender identity approved by the society or the government (Jebin & Farhana, 2015; Islam, 2019; Sema & Islam, 2020; Abedin & Sarker, 2022; Sifat & Shafi, 2021; Hossain & Ferdous, 2020; Fontana, 2020; Safa, 2016; Hafiz et al, 2022). PWD and TG people are jeopardized to their personal, family, and social life.…”

“…Their social, economic, cultural, and political participation is not recognized (Sifat & Shafi, 2021). They are mysterious to the common people (Sema & Islam, 2020) and they are facing a range of discriminatory issues in workplaces and educational institutions (Hafiz et al, 2022). Because of the negative attitude of the people and limited livelihood options, they isolate and hide them from the mainstream society (Hossain & Ferdous, 2020).…”