Examining the Perception of Work-Related Skills for Transgender Employees

The current research sought to identify potential reasons for the prejudice and discrimination that transgender employees face in the workplace. Participants viewed a photograph of a potential employee with some participants randomly assigned to the experimental condition, which suggested the employee was transgender. Work-related skills and potential success in the workplace were evaluated. Participants tended to evaluate transgender employees lower on traits and skills important in the workplace, but there was no difference in the evaluation of potential success in the workplace. Results are discussed in terms of practical barriers that exist for transgender employees in the workplace.