I want to understand about autistic adults difficulties which they face in workplace.

I like computers. I enjoy working with computers.

I am confident with Microsoft Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office (word processing skills and able to develop and use excel spreadsheets, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Skype for Business and Visio).

I like to work with databases and spreadsheets.

I have got a very strong interest in data analysis, IT, mathematics, data security and compliance. I am especially interested in cyber security and defense.

Autistic adults may come across different types of behaviours in a work environment.  These may consist of seemingly harmless jokes or - at the opposite side of the spectrum- persistent mental abuse and discrimination at the hand of their colleagues. This usually happens with the complicity functions generally designated to identify and eradicate these behaviours. Typically, the larger the company tolerating these behaviours the more difficult it is to eradicate them -  (with sophisticated coverups often implemented to avoid exposing these issues). While trade unions may not always be able  to provide support especially to those who have joined ex post facto, some advocacy group who can provide informal support to Autism individuals experiencing similar treatments. (Suggest this group watch the film ‘Spotlight’; then simply replace the Catholic Bishops with Senior Executives of companies failing to punish these behaviours ultimately allowing the culprits to perpetuate their abuses).

In addition to the points others have mentioned, i would also add a few things.

One is 'role-play' in interviews. I can never get my head around those. I just don't understand how much detail i have to go into. For example, i had one for a retail position where i had someone pretending to be a customer, asking me to pretend to phone a pretend colleague about a non-existent item. I really can't cope with all the levels of reality in that. For example, do i need to do both sides of the fictional phone call or do i simply pause in silence whilst we all imagine their pretend response? My questions for more information on the rules of this exercise really worried the interviewer as she didn't understand what there was to understand!

Another is the culture of working through breaks. I work rather than chat when i am at work, so i need my lunch break. However i get comments on how lazy i am for taking 20 minutes to go and eat something. Especially since i need to get away from everyone for it to be a worthwhile break. Everyone else seems to prefer to stay at their desk, skip meals and just chat the whole day long.

Another is the general attitude towards rules and regulations, particularly from management. I won't do things that are stupid just because i am told to. However, i used to work in an environment where following set regulations was really important and i accepted that and was happy to do so. But i was the only one who cared and so was told to stop fussing all the time. They were always asking me to sign things without reading them or sign to say something had been done when they had already told me they couldn't be bothered to do it. I refused because i don't agree with that sort of thing and they just went ahead and forged my signature. I know they found me an infuriating fusspot but i just can't work like that as the whole thing is pointless.

I have the same difficulty understanding the various informal cliques at work, and I accept that it's seen as normal to fit in, but some days it's hard to try. It can take a lot of mental effort to put yourself "out there" when all you want is to be on your own and somewhere quiet. I wish there was some way of doing that without offending people, as a retreat (physically or mentally) is often seen as a sort of insult. Although there are a few people I work with who will now accept my silence as humorous, calling to me to "keep the noise down", while I jokingly apologise for the racket.

It's hardest at the beginning of a new job, before people get to know you. Acceptance is hard won, and takes time, probably a lot more time than average. It would be good if employers (and employees) could take that into account, and not jump to the conclusion that you are being deliberately aloof/stuck up/judgemental or just plain rude.

You can do anything you want California. What type of work would you most enjoy doing? 

The only downside I found - apart from the inconsistent income - was that home became work.  It was difficult to switch off from work and go into 'home mode.' 

In the end, I overcame this to some extent by installing a second hard drive on my computer, and only using that hard drive for work.  I even used a different OS on it.  That way, I could simply switch off - then reboot on the 'home' hard drive.

I wish I could work from home. This would be best for me. I would be so happy.

One of the main problems - especially so if you're undiagnosed, but also if you're diagnosed - is getting people to think that you're anything other than simply fussy, oversensitive, unfriendly, or deliberately recalcitrant.  You most likely look as 'normal' as anyone else, so why would you behave any different or be treated differently?  You have no obvious physical disabilities.  You eat and drink, and go to the toilet, and have a home, and drive to work or take the bus - just like anyone.  It's a huge gulf of understanding - or misunderstanding.  Even now, knowing me as they do, people will say 'Are you sure you're autistic?'  Like saying to a gay person 'Are you sure you're homosexual?'

Hello Jonesy,

Thanks for sharing information about your problems with me. I will surely mention about not using fluorescent lights in workplaces. 

Hi California, 

Thanks for sharing information about your problems with me. It was really helpful. 

I will include about your problem about handshakes in my project. I feel that people should know about it. It will help you to lessen your stress.

You gave a wonderful solution for job interviews. I wish that for autistic people, interviews are taken in writing. I will surely include your point about job interviews in my project.

Hello Martian Tom,

Thanks for sharing your problems and experiences with me. The main problems which you have faced I have taken care about all of them and I am going to put it in my project. Its very important to know about this if someone is working with autistic person.

Martian, even I wish that I could bridge the gap of understanding. Lets hope that some changes occurs in workplace and you get better environment and support from people around.

Thanks Robert for sharing your experience with me and telling me about the problems you faced at workplace. I have also noticed that people form cliques. I feel that its everywhere. In schools, colleges, offices, everywhere people form informal cliques. That must be surely annoying for you. I understand.

You mentioned about bullying which is horrifying to me. Its really sad. I am sorry about it. I would surely highlight this point in my project. 

I can echo much of what others have already said.... and would add that personally I really struggle with fluorescent lighting, the flicker is very visible to me and gives me headaches yet nearly all work places I've worked in especially offices and classrooms seem to have that type.

My biggest problems are:

Noises,

Open plan office,

Too bright office,

People moving around me.

Because of these I cannot focus.

A huge problem is handshakes. I do not like handshakes. I never initiate them. They only cause me stress and anxiety.

Another problem is phones. I do not like phones. They make me extremely anxious.

I do not like small talks and gossips. If someone starts them, I quickly run away.

The job interviews is a huge problem. It is an absolutely horrible experience. Absolute nightmare!!! The best I can do is to answer Yes and No and maybe some short sentences. One of the worst questions - Tell us about yourself! - What should I tell? The job application form already contains all the information. If something is unclear, ask specific questions, not general questions.

I wish job interviews would be in writing. My life would be much easier.

Robert124 said:

Most people in the workplace form informal cliques.  Autistics are either unaware of this informal social gathering or unaware how to join in.

Then there's workplace bullying in all it's forms.  How to deal with it without violence or leaving the job entirely.

Small talk and gossip.  A bleeding mystery!!!!!!??????

Norms of social behaviour such as coffee making, sharing and other things most people take for granted. Autistics haven't a clue.  Need to learn each unspoken and unwritten rule at a time.

I'd go with all of that.  Wherever I've worked, I've generally ended up being 'outside' of the cliques.  Pre-diagnosis, I never understood why.  I just thought that no one liked me.  Even in workplaces where I have a lot in common with my colleagues (such as in my current and my last job, both in SEN care), I've generally found myself to be the lone wolf after a short while.  Interestingly, when I was at university, I spent two summers working on summer camps in the US.  For the most part, the staff from the UK who turned up didn't know anyone else there.  We were all strangers to one another.  In those situations, people invariably seek out a few others to team up with - and that happened with me, too.  For a week or so, a few people hung around with me.  Then, gradually, they all began to separate off to other groups.  Usually by the end of the camps - 12 weeks - I was alone again.  To be honest, that isn't really a problem for me any more now, though.  When I see what preoccupies them - gossip, small talk, last night's TV, sport, etc - I'm glad I'm not a part of it.

Main problems for me have been:

* Being asked to work extra time without much notice

* Shift pattern changes

* Multi-tasking

* Getting back to the job in hand if I've been called away - even briefly - to do something else

* Being told to do something another way when the way I'm doing it - and have always done it - works fine, anyway

* Too much noise

I now have just about the ideal - even though it's low paid.  I work 9 - 4.30, no overtime, Tuesday to Friday, and I get to focus on one job (service user) at a time.  The one big issue I've had is that a couple of times, a colleague has asked me at hometime if I wouldn't mind dropping her home (if it's raining, for instance, or she's missed her bus).  I really don't mind doing people favours, and I'm also a people-pleaser (though I'm trying to shake that off), but it means going off my normal route and it makes me anything up to 20 minutes late home - which leads to a lot of anxiety.  It also means I have to reschedule my evening.  The last time it happened, I told her that it causes me a problem, and she was fortunately very understanding.  She knows I'm an Aspie, as they all do, so it's led to much more open discussion at work, and more accommodation of my needs.

I wish you well with your hope to develop a means to bridge the gap of understanding.  Personally, I think it'll always be there to some degree.  My current employer specialises in autism care, so all of my colleagues are trained to understand autistic behaviour.  But they're not autistic themselves, and they still get things wrong.  They still pull my leg, then have to say to me 'Sorry... I'm just joking'.  And they simply cannot understand the fact that I have no friends or a social life, and don't actually want either of those things.  I suppose it's a bit like being heterosexual, and trying to understand what it's like to be a homosexual.  Or a man trying to understand what it's like to be a woman.  We can take it all on board - but there'll still be that gap of complete knowledge and understanding.

Most people in the workplace form informal cliques.  Autistics are either unaware of this informal social gathering or unaware how to join in.

Then there's workplace bullying in all it's forms.  How to deal with it without violence or leaving the job entirely.

Small talk and gossip.  A bleeding mystery!!!!!!??????

Norms of social behaviour such as coffee making, sharing and other things most people take for granted. Autistics haven't a clue.  Need to learn each unspoken and unwritten rule at a time.