Hey! **All** of this is covered in our insurance stuff and can be located through mysbuxben. If your partner numbers work, you can sign in $1

they cover *everything.* You do need an official diagnosis, bare minimum, however, to start any treatments through Starbucks. It even mentions how to transition amongst your coworkers, and what is expected from them!

Call 1-877-SBUXBEN (728-9236) and I believe that puts you through to a benefits advisor.

I recommend telling your store manager and telling everyone once you feel comfortable I have a co-worker who is currently transitioning and told everyone at our store meeting ,everyone is very accepting it may take a while before they get used to saying him,he, etc but it's typically due to us automatically saying it without thinking but it will get better with time

One of my first shift supervisors was FTM in early stages of transition. He was incredibly popular at my store both with the team and the customers, he was just a super nice person and charming as heck. He had been working there pre-transition, and used the same name though it was one that worked both ways, and there were some people who wouldn't get his pronouns right though it never seemed to be out of any sort of vitriol. He was very chill about it and that helped a lot. As much as I'm sure it can be frustrating for some trans folks, you gotta remember that you may well be the first person some people have interacted directly with who doesn't identify with their biological sex openly at all... especially since FtM is less common and less visible. His warm heart and patience with people who didn't always "get" him went a long way toward the welcoming being reciprocal.

I was actually barring while he was my DTO one of the last days I worked with him before he transferred away. At the end of an order a customer said "thank you sir." We all turned to him because we knew that was the first time someone had addressed him specifically as male based on only his voice, and his face coulda lit the whole store. Team hugs were definitely had. It was a great day for all of us, we were so proud of him and the community of support we had.

Every starbucks store I've worked at has had a pretty solid, supportive, diverse team of partners. It's not really the sort of company or job that someone who isn't open to all sorts of people can thrive in, and there's definitely draw for those of us who feel like "others" sometimes.

So my personal advice for moving forward... Use whatever name you want to be called on your nametag. If people question it, you can use that as a moment to mention that it is the name you'd prefer and what pronouns you'd like used. In all likelihood, most people will be curious or a bit confused but frankly not care all that much. Partners are a tight-knit bunch usually, and I think you'll find as long as you're patient about it and don't fuss you'll find a lot of support from your team.

Customers mostly don't give a crap about us, even the regulars aren't going to tear their hair out over it. If one does... they can fuck right off. Let them transfer if that's their solution. They're going to find us queer folk at any store they go to anyway.

And... if a partner ever gives you trouble over it, you can either talk to your store manager or to the Partner Contact Center at 1-866-504-7368. I've called them myself a couple times with a variety of issues and always found them not only understanding but actually enjoyable to talk to. They are there SPECIFICALLY for you and you are not the only LGBT partner who has ever had a struggle while working here, so you can trust that they will do their best to help.

I suggest just telling the partners you trust the most and then telling the rest. Then you will have people just doing it and others can catch on, instead of coming off as argumentative about it if someone just makes a mistake or calls you your previous pronoun out of habit. I don’t mind people arguing for the right to be called what they like, but arguing at work is not going to be good for any reason. It is honestly not something that should come up at work very often, as it has no bearing on your ability to do your job. Calling you she or saying her, if done innocently and respectfully should meet respectful correction and assumption of good faith (Assuming the Best in Starbuck’s lingo). Same should hold true for you asking to be called your preferred terms and name.

Fellow partners should not be weighing in on your decisions any more than you can tell them how to run their lives. Corporate will definitely have your back and your SM will be trained to deal with it in a fair and ethical way. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean that they will handle it right but they do have a binding obligation to do so.

As for customers, I would just change your name tag. Maybe even take some time to make it really nice art. A fellow barista can probably help if you aren’t great at art. I bought my own chalk pens with tons of bold colors so I can make my tags at home and seal it. The customers might ask why it says your preferred name, and not your previous name, so that can break the ice. You don’t even have to go telling everyone you transitioned just get them to call you by your name first. They will probably catch on. Customers usually call me, “you,” as in “You made my drink wrong,” or “You still put the whip on my soy Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino! Thank you!”

Edit: typos foxed

I’m covered through my wife’s insurance. But from what I can tell, after you have your basic WOARH docs, the insurance is aggressively trans-affirming.

Meanwhile - your partners might take a little while to gender you correctly every time (as is true everywhere), but you can def change your name on most of your internal stuff. Depending on where you live, refusing to acknowledge your pronouns or name is sexual harassment.

Also, whaddup fellow trans dude barista! I’ve only been a partner for a little while, but feel free to reach out if you want!

I don't know about insurance but changing your name and making sure you're comfortable in the workplace will be very smooth I think, since Starbucks has made so many updates regarding trans partners and these exact matters. I can't speak for specific, ignorant partners or customers, but you can go to your sm or call the hotline😊


PS congrats on starting this journey! I'm very proud to have you as a fellow partner!