Being gender critical at work, Jk Rowling etc NHs

What does the mug say? I don't know if it's because I'm on the app but I can't see anything.

Agreed that they're prescribed almost off-label for some people.

There's a reason drugs like haldol/haloperidol/chlorpromazine are known as a liquid cosh. They're still over-prescribed to 'help people sleep or to calm them down' (despite the lack of an evidence base for benefit and a strong indication of harms).

Her question about being safe around you is totally out of order. Trying to force you to put pronouns on your badge is stupid. However, as others have suggested, maybe ditch the mug. You don’t want to give them any reason to accuse you of being discriminatory against a protected characteristic (which being trans is).

Also seen anti psychotics prescribed as anti sickness medication! Or anti sickness prescribed as an anti psychotic, not sure which way round 😁

I’m really sorry this is happening to you, @DoubleScreens. I also work in healthcare (private, not NHS) and this morning have lost a gender battle I’ve been fighting for months. I can’t go into any detail, but the law is not on my side on this, and I won’t win unless I turn it into the next Forstater, which I’m not brave enough to do. I’m so fucking angry and frustrated, and I stand beside you, meaningless and powerless as that is. It’s fucking shit.

It's such a shame there are only six of us and our many socks.

Imagine the power of that one on one conversation or one on small group conversation to everyone who is taking everyone's word for it about JKR and the issues.

@StrongerThanYouTh1nk Thanks for posting that. Made me laugh. 😄

The fact you have cancer also gives you the protection of disability; it's defined in the act. So your manager is on really shaky ground and you don't deserve the hassle when you're well never mind when you've got so much to deal with.

Use the mug at work or not, it's up to you. Definitely make a note of the conversations you have with her in case you need to build a grievance against her.

Sad to say, it sounds like like she thinks she can bully you out. I've seen it don't and it's horrible.

Anti-psychotics aren't prescribed lightly. They're generally for things like schizophrenia and paranoia delusions, so I can understand why finding out you're on them would make her anxious.

Absolute rubbish. They're prescribed off label for a variety of things as well. I have neither schizophrenia nor delusions but I've been prescribed an anti-psychotic for insomnia before. I have ptsd, at my worst the only person I'm a threat to is me.

I've seen them prescribed for tourettes, anxiety and bipolar before as well.

I would absolutely be pushing back hard against that sort of attitude, especially in the NHS.

Go to HR, get a policy change and an apology

Strongerthanyouth1nk
thankyou for that gem! @23.08 1/2/24 for anyone who wants to practice their critical thinking skills (beginner level!) focusing on JKRowling’s misdemeanours 😂

Sorry for the derail

Agree with this.
If you want to keep your job you need to be prepared, say as little as possible that's incriminating and be a step ahead.

Yes it is like in 1984, but there we are.

Ex-NHS HR. The OP will have consented to Occ Health telling her manager - it’s literally the point of the appointment.

According to CIPD

'There are both legal and ethical issues on maintaining the of employee health confidentiality information. Registered healthcare professionals are required by their regulatory bodies to preserve medical confidentiality and only reveal health information to third parties with the individual's informed consent.'

I would be pressing record on my phone every time she enters the room.

Paper trail.

Take notes. Date them.

Follow up any conversations with an email clarifying exactly what was said in a calm, factual manner.

How did she find out what meds you are on? Did she look up your patient records?
MASSIVE breach of patient confidentiality if so

I would ditch the mug for now

“Am I safe to be in a room with you, since you are mentally ill?” is not a neutral question. It is ableist. Accusing an out lesbian of homophobia is itself homophobic. Both taken together, aimed at an employee taking or potentially about to take significant amounts of sick leave for cancer treatment, looks to me like bullying out an employee. Which is a well-trodden path in the NHS where employees are hard to just fire for capability. The next step will be to accuse OP of bullying somebody herself.

OP, I suspect this has nothing to do with JKR or your pronouns, and everything to do with getting rid of you for other reasons. I’d request a meeting with your boss’s boss, and get a record made of these comments.

Dear OP

This sounds like a nightmare.

And hard as it might be I think the advice about keeping a record, and when you feel able going to HR if the union is a lost case.

Or whoever her manager is?

Also apart from the stupidity of what she has been saying, it also sounds like she is targetting you because of her entrenched beliefs.

Also her behaviour is erratic and unprofessional. If she thinks your medication is an issue, should could get advice from those qualified to say.

Its totally unacceptable to ask someone directly whether they are a threat.

She deserves to have a complaint made against her, though can see it isn't something you would want to do.

I dont suppose there is a GC NHS staff network?

If you dont have any support at work, is there any support locally? Not sure what area you are but is there a local group like resisters or something.

Hope this individual calms down. Maybe you could make a big performance of writing down what she is say, and if she questions it, say its because you feel she is very threatening and intimidating and you have been advised to keep a record.

But in the meantime please come back here to let off steam.

And if will be a very public record of the madness going on in the NHS and how it impacts on individual women.

Take care

If I was made to put pronouns and didn’t want to I would make something up like truck / icecream, maybe that’s what you identify as?

"Trust me bro"

If all she did was ask a question, that is fine.

You might be able to "understand" @TownGown but it's not very professional and could be discrimination/harassment on grounds of disability.

Anti-psychotics aren't prescribed lightly. They're generally for things like schizophrenia and paranoia delusions, so I can understand why finding out you're on them would make her anxious.