I’m about to start a new job working with a TRA and I’m nervous

He sounds horrendous, I would be minimising contact with him if I were you.

Absolutely dont undermine his reputation
Just stop looking at his social media.
You are going to have to work with people you violently disagree with. I do.

consider trying to sow seeds to undermine his reputation slightly. When he comes up in conversation with others I would wrinkle my nose a bit

Horrible advice. I’d be surprised if that’s didn’t fall foul of HR guidance. I’d also suspect that it might make your colleagues wary of you and how you speak about them.

He's a stranger to you @Screamingabdabz . You literally don't know anything about this man. However this thread isn't about him, it's about the OP's concerns about returning to the workplace after a prolonged absence and working alongside people different to her.

It's not about you.

He’s a TRA - a women-hating, reality-denying activist - but I’m the ‘unhinged’ one… okay then. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

And maybe they feel the same about you sharing your views? That's right only yours count hey?

I have to say you are right to consider this and be prepared so you don't get blindsided.

My brother dresses up in women's clothing and hangs around in bars.since the ruling he's absolutely gone ballistic on social media and with the wider family. He's also pushing the public toilet usage aggressively. He's 6ft and broad and used urinals for 45 years so I'm not at all worried about him.

He has been really pushy about getting us to say TWAW which neither my mum or I can stomach. We deflect, we claim ignorance because clarifying boundaries won't happen on an individual basis.
Everytime he kicks off and we keep quiet, we donate to the gardening requests protecting society through the law. It balances my conscience.

"I feel like I’ve stumbled onto the wrong planet sometimes."
Agreed, I feel like something went horribly wrong and up is now down. I would like to go back to the original planet where sanity reigned.

I wouldn't worry about being brainwashed because reality, biology and the law is on your side. You are right, he's wrong. Even worse that he is not even trans yet he is fighting against women's rights. If you need a dose of sanity I find X an excellent place to fuel my rage against gender ideology madness. Also, the detrans sub on reddit and seeing the damage it has caused should keep any brainwashing at bay if you feel you are getting sucked into the the infinite pity party of the "poor victims".

You are creating a problem where none currently exists @abitnervousohbugger.

Congratulations on your new job.👏👏👏 Ten years is a long time to be out of the workplace, but I'm sure you'll adapt well, apply the skills you have learned this past decade and rise to whatever challenges arise.🙂

Yes, yes, yes!

I agree with this, and also with others who have said you just have to put up with the fact he gets to put his opinions put there and you don't, if you realitically want to continue with a flourishing career.

I suggest not looking at his social media again if possible. I don't know how realistic that is for your work. If you had no pre conception about his politics your relationship would start just like any other and you might have found you really like him. You still might.

Now you do know, it's good to keep in mind that you need to take care not to stumble into a disagreement with him, or to out yourself if you know that wouldn't be a good idea. But you might find that his real life persona and social media persona are quite different.

It's a good lesson in how not to use social media of it's professionally linked.

I don't agree with this : ", after working with him for a while, you don’t change your opinion of him, I would consider trying to sow seeds to undermine his reputation ...". It's the flip side of the workplace bullying and presimptions based on stereotypes that we've seen in the gc employment tribunals.

Given your situation, I would keep your head down. But keep a note of anything he says that you might need to use to protect yourself/make a case at a later date. Just in case.

If, after working with him for a while, you don’t change your opinion of him, I would consider trying to sow seeds to undermine his reputation slightly. When he comes up in conversation with others I would wrinkle my nose a bit and say something along the lines of that he just comes across as a bit misogynistic. Charming and friendly to people, but dismissive of women’s views/not prepared to see his own privilege/etc. Whatever way of phrasing things is in fashion in your work environment. Don’t tackle his TRA position at all, but try to subtly undermine him on the basis of his sexism. If you can also point to other ways he’s arrogant or has got things wrong in his job, so much the better. Having example of him doing this would be helpful, but you can also say along the lines of “it’s hard to pinpoint, it’s just the impression I get and I just can’t like him because of it.”

A colleague might have very extreme political views in the opposite direction, they might have many personal interests and opinions you don't align with or find fascinating.

Just imagine you've never met them before and don't know anything about them other than their role at work. You don't need to know anything else about them or even like them personally. You just need to treat them as a colleague and get your job done.

There could be lots of others you work with who have various views or character traits outside of work you don't agree with. Don't concern yourself with any of them.

Bet your bottom dollar his opinion of trans rights will come up in the work place. For no reason other than he wants to voice it.

I think the past decade has shown us that these individuals are definitely more likely to ‘irrationally kick off’.

I really admire that you care about this - I do too and it cuts deep. When the SC judgement came out I wanted to scream about it from the rooftops - I was so happy. Yet all I could do was share a quiet drink at home with only one friend who understood fully. My DH doesn’t really get it at all or is just too preoccupied with work to want to engage. I couldn’t post on social media, apart from anonymously, which feels so lame. And yet - the ‘other side’ - the lynch mob, the women haters, the fetishists, they are screaming blue murder all over the place with no repercussions whatsoever. Strange times.

In the workplace, lie back and think of England still seems to be the deal for most women when it comes to keeping our jobs in the face of this. I just look to all the fantastic women who have been able to speak though, and who have fought so courageously on behalf of all of us. I soak up the media on them and read their clever posts and columns and it gives me a continuous source of hope. And then, I try to do what I have to do to keep a roof over my head. It’s just life. You will be fine. Don’t let the bastard grind you down.

If you have been out of the workplace for a while, don't talk about politics, religion and other controversial topics in the workplace. Ignore the "Bring your full self to work" advice. Look, I get it, I am brown and there are many times I want to talk about creeping racism, but I don't do that in the office ( helps I mostly WFH). I stick to discussing the work and other non-controversial topics like the weather, TV shows, books etc.

If you are not working in that area, I doubt anyone will ask you.

Honestly comments like yours are unhinged. Someone has a different view to the OP, it doesn’t make them any more likely to “irrationally kick off”.

I work with vocal TRAs, who are particularly vocal on LinkedIn. I just don’t engage in discussion about it - I do my job, they do theirs, our job has nothing to do with it and apart from opposing views on this particular issue, they’re all nice people and there are plenty of other things to talk about

If he starts can you say oh I don’t really know enough about it, did you watch Love Island yesterday (or whatever crappy show is on). That way he may not feel inclined to have in-depth discussions with you that have got nothing to do with work.

“I would be starting a diary on day one, noting every single thing he says which suggests that he does not respect the sex based rights of women and LGB people.”

This. I would keep an accurate daily record of anything he says or any behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. That will be a good thing to have if he irrationally kicks off at any point, and being a TRA that’s highly likely.

Why are you going to have to be the one who worries about this?

You say you're junior but does he have the power to fire you or make your working life impossible? Doesn't sound like it. And no-one could do either without due process or pushback. Are you not wanting to be assertive or in conflict with him? I don't minimise those fears but there comes a point where standing up for yourself is better than the alternatives. That doesn't mean engaging with this on his terms.

If 'gender / trans' isn't part of your job then he doesn't have any more right to raise the topic than you. I assume your views are not in conflict with the law, so yours is the default position, you shouldn't need to defend your views, argue with him or get drawn into the topic at all if you don't want to. You don't need to bring it up and I'd hope you can tune his views out.

You must be qualified for your post and you have as much right to be there as him. Whatever his status in your area, he's just a bloke. In my work, I found a very effective technique against authority in general was not to react defensively to anything, just be calm and smiley and unafraid - your stance on trans can be 'Oh I don't really have a view on all that, and I don't get into general politics at work'. I know charities are riven with politics but you're not obliged to engage beyond the specific remit of your post.

Definitely clean up your social media.