Published on 12, July, 2020
The first place I was in (full time contract) held a meeting between management and HR and said I could leave the job there and then and be paid for the three months notice I would have worked. I hated the environment in that place so I was glad to go. I was told in the past while in this job that I wasn't productive enough. I worked here just under a year,
The second place did not renew my 3 month temporary contract citing performance and quality issues. This does not make sense as I focus a lot on detail so the quality should at least have been good. Four other temporary staff were kept on after their contracts ended. Out of the 5 temporary people, I was the only one not kept on.
Is this a pattern that's going to keep repeating itself? Saddening if so. Do they see the aspergers and make excuses to get rid of me? I thought my work quality was far better than others who were more pally with management (in other words the *** lickers).
I have always found I need to keep starting again in life. I'm in my 30s and it's back to the drawing board.
I am recently diagnosed with ASD and in my late 50s. I have been working since I left University aged 21. Most jobs have lasted about 2 years - at that point I would either get bored and move onto something more challenging, or run into problems which forced me to leave. I am seen as a threat by bullies and by people who are engaged in corrupt activity at work. Unlike most of my colleagues I challenge what is going on. Maintaining my moral integrity has cost me a great deal in career terms, but I do not regret it.
Managing other people has always been extremely challenging for me, for reasons I now understand. I have avoided that for the latter part of my career. I work best when I can research and carry out tasks independently of colleagues. I excel in new roles and have often rescued projects that had got stuck because I can see different ways of doing things. My tolerance for confusion and uncertainty, open mind and ability to see patterns and connections made me a very good researcher.
As a woman my confidence, assertiveness and outspokenness have been a problem in the workplace. I fitted in better in predominantly male workplaces. Changes to my working environment over the years had a profoundly negative effect. The shift from individual offices to open plan was a disaster for me. For a while working from home for part of the week was acceptable in some of my professional roles, but this changed too.
Rather than attempting to fit in anywhere in the long term I have decided to look for short term contracts now where my strengths outweigh my limitations. Self employment is another option I am exploring. I should probably have done this years ago, but anxiety about not having a regular income made it difficult for me to give up salaried roles.
In many workplaces very little work is actually done - most of my NT colleagues seem to go to work to socialise. I was astonished when I realised a colleague's email inbox was full of personal conversations with colleagues. I prefer to leave my personal life at home and focus on getting the job done. I have no desire to share photos, discuss family matters or make friends at work. It is very hard when colleagues expect this of me.
The psychologist who assessed me encouraged me to draw up a career passport summarising work-related strengths and challenges. Having a clear idea about what works well for me and what is difficult should, in theory, help me to adapt current roles or find more suitable employment. The NAS template she sent me was very depressing - deficit focussed and uninspiring. I am going to try and come up with something better.
I used Access to Work in a couple of jobs after I developed hearing loss; unfortunately my employers had no real interest in making adjustments. I now realise they probably saw this as a convenient opportunity to get rid of me. In such circumstances there are legal remedies under employment law but these come at a high financial and emotional cost. Some employers are repeat offenders in terms of disability discrimination. It saddens me that nothing changes even when people are courageous and speak up.
This is all rather depressing I'm afraid - the only thing that gives me hope is the recent surge in autism activism. In my final career years I am determined to keep fighting for the employment rights of future generations of autistic people.
Brave lady. Thank you.