A transsexual who was awarded more than €35,000 compensation for workplace discrimination has spoken of her relief that the case ended successfully.
Louise Hannon (50) from Arbour Hill in Dublin, brought a case against First Direct Logistics in which she alleged she had been constructively dismissed when she revealed her gender identity to her employer and sought to live according to it in her workplace.
It was revealed yesterday that Ms Hannon has been awarded a total of €35,422.71 from her former employer after the Equality Tribunal ruled she had been unfairly discriminated against on gender and disability grounds.
Speaking today Ms Hannon said she felt vindicated after winning the case and hoped it would serve as a warning to other employers about the need to look after their transgendered staff.
"I think that including diversity in the mix makes for a very good company and one which will be much more productive," she said.
"I had a very good relationship with the managing director. I got on very well with him and worked very hard for him and I think he would acknowledge that. I'm just sorry it worked out the way it did because it was a very unfortunate way that it happened," she added.
Discussing her compensation award on RTÉ radio this morning, Ms Hannon said she first informed her employer that she was transgender in November 2006 and asked to leave the company but was encouraged to stay.
However, Ms Hannon said things deteriorated after she changed her name by deed poll and sought to live fully as a woman in the workplace.
Ms Hannon - who was employed as a business development manager - was asked to continue using her male identity while carrying out many of her duties.
"The problem was I was being called Louise one minute and then my male name the next when I would be working on the phones in a big open plan office with the drivers standing at the reception with their jaws dropping. This was extremely upsetting and very embarrassing," she said during the interview on RTÉ.
Subsequently the company director told her she could come to the office dressed as a woman but should change into male clothing and use a male identity when seeing clients.
Ms Hannon said this request had caused her further anguish.
"It was very difficult. I couldn't figure out how I was going to do it and in fact, it put an awful lot of stress on me at the time," she told broadcaster Pat Kenny.
Ms Hannon was later asked to work from home for a short period because "there was an atmosphere" but after doing so for four months with no sign of being permitted to return to the workplace decided she had no alternative but to leave the company.
The equality officer said in her ruling that transsexualism was a recognised medical condition and said the company had little if any understanding that the gender-transition process was the appropriate treatment for the complainant’s condition.
Ms Hannon said she had no regrets in giving up her anonymity to pursue the case.
"If it encourages people to be more open about their gender identity then it's worthwhile," she said.
The awarding of compensation to Ms Hannon has been widely welcomed by support groups.
Transgender Equality Network Ireland said an important precedent had been set in recognising the inclusion of transgender people under the gender ground of equality legislation.
“Ms Hannon’s case highlights that transgender people regularly experience discrimination in the workplace as well as challenges in accessing and retaining employment,” said Teni chairwoman Martine Cuypers.
The Equality Authority also welcomed the decision.
