Published on 12, July, 2020
Good afternoon my fellow aspies.
I would like to speak to you all regarding something that i feel very passionately about.
This would be the impact that Autism can have in the work place on a social level.
I personally have experienced a great deal of friction in this area and it has had a significant impact on my well being. These difficulties have been ignored by my employer. This is an absurdity to me as it was my employer that paid for my diagnosis. The truth is that i would never have pursued a diagnosis had it not been for the impact that my Autistic Spectrum Disorder (commonly known as Aspergers) has on my day to day working life.
The difficulties i experience are many but the issue i would like to focus on in particular are the social issues. In a nut shell 'i am come across as arrogant, aloof and lack a sense of hierarchy'. Throughout my working life i beleive this has made me a target for bullying and harassment in the work place. It has caused me to leave a number of jobs (admittedly i had not received my formal diagnosis at these times).
For various reasons not dissimilar to those that have materialised in other jobs, i am now in dispute with my current employer. The difference here is that i have had my diagnosis and this was paid for by my current employer. Bizarrely my employer is now denying my disability even though they paid for the diagnosis.
What i have found utterly shocking however throughout this situation is not simply the ignorance of my employer. It is also my experience with the organisation we all know as ACAS. This is an organisation i turned to in the hope that they would assist me in resolving issues with my current employer. How wrong i was. To any of you that experience issues in the work place; please be careful when dealing with this organisation.
It is my understanding that this organisation is supposed to be impartial. My experience so far has shown to me that they are entirely biased in favour of the employer. Their involvement has also perversely affected the behavior of my employer also.
I informed my conciliator that i had Autistic Spectrum Disorder from the outset of their involvement. I offered to have someone from the NHS explain to her what the condition was. She was dismissive of the offer and claimed she knew exactly what it was. From this point onward i felt that she didnt take me seriously at all.
I do not want to go into to much detail about this case at the moment but i would say that she advised me to agree to all of my employers demands, was reluctant to communicate with me and at one stage told me 'i was paranoid, should go see my cousellor and should go for a walk to clear my head'.
I made a request to see her line manager and had to wait until the last day of the allocated conciliation time frame to speak to him. When i did speak to him, he explained to me that he was responsible for giving out Autism Awareness training to his staff. For a split second i found this comforting; that was until he then proceeded to tell me how autism and aspergers where to separate conditions. As i underdtand it, aspergers technically doesn't exist when it comes to DSM5 criteria. Correct me if im wrong.
Further to this, someone at ACAS has informed my employer that i had made a complaint (which i am certain breaches data protection laws). They have also told my employer that everything they have done (with regards to myself) will stand up to any 3rd party scrutiny. This beggars belief for me for the following reasons:-
1. They are supposed to be impartial.
2. They are not supposed to give legal advice.
3. They are not qualified to give legal advice.
4. How can they know what is correct regarding my treatment if they themselves are not properly educated on my condition.
I have since been in contact with a long lost school friend and amazingly he has recently been diagnosed and is experiencing similar social issues in the work place. He has told me that his experience with ACAS has been equally troubling.
What on earth is this organisation? Am i correct in assuming that as an arm of the government, this organisation should be subject to statutory guidance as set out in the 2009 autism strategy? If you have work issues and feel you have to turn to this organisation, i urge you to be very wary of them.
I respect your questioning of my case as it is helpful in all honesty.
How is monitoring my pc ensuring my safety? How is a new contract on an hourly rate ensuring my safety? How is insisting that i clock in and out with factory staff ensuring my safety? I must also stress that moving me to an hourly contract because of my disability is strictly prohibited by the 2010 equalities act. It says so in plain english. My employer is arguing that whay they are proposing is not an hourly contract but it clearly is.
They can argue it's all to ensure your safety and that you are not working too much. This will be decided on facts, not feelings.
Yes this is true. But if they are allowong other people to come and go, work from home and do overtime at home based on trust.....why do i have to have a new contract and pc monitoring? What is good for one, should be good for all!
Thanks for that - ok - if they have trained everyone, agreed to flexible hours and appear to have been very proactive, they have every right to know the hours that you work for your safety, particulary if lone working is a possiblity.
It is important to note that the case has to be based on discrimination because of your disbility
employmenttribunal-claims.cdn.ampproject.org/.../
It sounds like a horrible place to work. Your creativity will be curbed in the end due to an inhospitable environment.
Yes please - a link to that information would be helpful for all of us.
Even if you have a full-time contract you can basically be let go with no reason in the first two years from what I understand.
This is really helpful to know, thank you. I was not aware. Could you post me a link so I can learn more? Thank you
Not only are you covered from the moment you walk through the door, you also are not obliged to tell your employer that you have an autistic spectrum disorder on interview.
If you have problems in the work place because of ASD; it is important that you know this
In truth im not interested about the money. Well it would be nice but its not the point.
I have told them in detail where they are going wrong but they chose not to listen.
There is no turning back now. Ive picked the fight, i now have to see it through
Im not sure what they will take into consideration. I am simply putting all my cards on the table and telling the TRUTH. Ultimately what will be ...will be
Ive not been spat out yet. Im still employed by the company. The odds are against me (david and goliath) but its not over yet. In truth it is ACAS that i want to get. If i win this case, i will have a clear case against ACAS
But isn't that a GDPR complaint and not whatever you are doing next week?
They arent part of the company. They work in the NHS
I am so sorry you've been chewed up and spat out. I feel similarly. I have concluded that the majority of work success depends on how the 'herd' gels. Difference is not tolerated, despite all the laws, progression etc. It's about how well you can pander to management and colleagues. If they see you as a threat, you're toast. Bullies never get punished. I did my job well too. I'm a very clever diligent individual but social stuff seems to trump everything in the workplace.
Will the witness be prepared to damage their own position within the company for someone (you) who may be gone at the end of the week? Big risk on their part.