Can I be fired for misgendering?

Asked by: Prof. Dimitri Pfannerstill V  |  Last update: March 2, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)

Yes, you can be fired for intentionally or repeatedly misgendering a coworker, as it can create a hostile work environment and violate anti-discrimination laws (like Title VII in the US), but accidental misgendering usually warrants training, not firing, though policies and state laws vary, making intentional refusal a serious policy violation leading to termination, especially in states with specific pronoun laws.

Can you get fired for misgendering someone?

Yes you can be fired for misgendering. Slip ups happen and generally aren't a HUGE party foul unless it's happening repeatedly or intentionally, but yea, it can get you fired.

Can I get fired for not calling someone by their pronouns?

There is no law against it. So you can be fired for using pronouns, or for not using pronouns, or for anything else your boss might have a problem with. As long as he doesn't fire you for being black or Jewish or old or disabled or a woman, he's entirely within his rights under the law.

Can I get in trouble for misgendering?

The Legal Perspective: Misgendering as Harassment

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has also considered that misgendering can be a form of workplace harassment when it is repetitive, intentional and/or severe.

What is the #1 reason that employees get fired?

Poor work performance is the most commonly cited reason for an employee's termination, and is a catch-all term that refers to a number of issues, including failure to do the job properly or adequately even after undergoing the standard training period for new employees, failing to meet quotas, requiring constant ...

I can be fired for misgendering you??

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In a professional setting, misgendering someone is one form of discrimination based on gender that may constitute harassment, and this is compounded when such harassment is combined with professional hierarchical asymmetries (such as faculty-student or supervisor-employee power disparities).

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Who was fired for not using proper pronouns?

Steven Ressler, who was fired after five years from his job with Ikea in Indiana, says he informed his managers that using they/them pronouns conflicted with his Christian beliefs and requested a religious accommodation to refer to his colleague by their first name instead. One day later, Ressler says he was fired.

How to deal with misgendering at work?

If you've been misgendered by a colleague, address the situation quickly and directly. Here are a few examples of how you can respond to misgendering: "I appreciate your understanding and support. My pronouns are (insert pronouns), and it's important to me that you use them."

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Workplace favoritism becomes illegal when preferential treatment is given based on race, gender, age, disability, national origin, religion, pregnancy status, or other protected classes under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

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Can I sue someone for misgendering me?

Mistakes happen. But when does repeated misgendering move from being a mistake to discrimination? If the alleged misgendering is persistent or intentional, it could be actionable either through a state agency, or a lawsuit.

What to do if someone keeps misgendering you?

If someone is purposefully misgendering you, find support.

Remember, correcting someone who is misgendering you purposefully is a fruitless task, as they know what they are doing is wrong and have no intention of changing it. Being misgendered is never acceptable behavior. You and your identity are valid.

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