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late diagnosis, workplace assessment, impact on career?

Y

Hi all,

Although I don't have a diagnosis yet, I've realised in the past year that a lot of my experiences in relationships and at work might be related to being on the autism spectrum (I'm 39 btw). I've had an appointment with my GP a year ago (pre covid) and she assessed and referred me, but they rejected my referral because I now live in a different borough. Obviously haven't seen a GP since covid started so haven't been able to get a new referral.

Fast forward to now where I've had an excruciating year of working in a new job virtually, being bullied and almost pushed out by my previous very manipualtive manager, and have never felt so out of place and paranoid in my entire life (I mean I have most of my life, but this tops everything). Does anyone else find virtual working worse? I don't really pick up information from listening to it on a call, and I am mostly unclear of what I'm meant to be doing, find social interaction even more awkward, feel constantly excluded from meetings and at the end I'm just on the margins while other people do all the stuff, despite my over 10 years of work experience and 3-4 degrees. I'm signed off for anxiety and depression now after a recent team change (there's a lot of change where I work and I think I just couldn't hack it anymore and hardly slept, plus changing to yet a new patronising and over-bearing manager after a month of being managed by a woman who was brilliant but got promoted) and am re-considering getting assessed properly and perhaps doing it through my workplace.

My question is, will there be any backlash / impact on my career and prospects? Are there any legislative disadvantages to having been diagnosed? It's been a long and ardous path to just get to where I am now and I don't want to make it more difficult. I've previously disclosed mental health stuff at a previous job and it resulted in me getting lots of work taken off me and not being trusted with anything and being treated weirdly by my manager - when actually my main gripe with any work is that I never get included or any high profile stuff and can't see myself making progress or having an impact while watching others get all the opportunities and that depressing me.

Would really appreciate any advice from anyone who's gone through the process and how it's impacted their work!

Y

Parents

  • It may or may not impact you negatively at work, but, if it does you have legal recourse.

    You're already feeling bullied. Could being able to say "Im disabled, and you are breaking the law by treating me this way" make things worse?  If you get your diagnosis, it will not only validate that it's not your "fault", it will open doors for treatment- that could make things a lot better. With diagnosis one can access the services supporting more effective function, to feel better, and to do the things intelligence alone could not provide- things like having better relationships with people. Those things all make work, and managing the pressures of work, easier. 

    Any reasonable adjustments you need... they may not cost the earth, and to be honest, you're not the only person who they make reasonable adjustments for! 

    You would be entitled to support, and as it would be a new diagnosis AtW would pay for your initial support without contribution from your employer.

    If this were diabetes, you wouldn't worry about diagnosis, would you? Autism is not a character fault- it's a disorder, but, it doesn't just gives us problems, it also gives us strengths. You have no reason to be ashamed of yourself, and, your employer has no legitimate reason to view you less favourably. If they do, they are guilty of discrimination and you could pursue that.

    I know for myself I felt awkward when first asserting my rights, so I have had help from my union. 

    Ultimately tho, it's up to you and I hope you can find the decision that you feel comfortable with. 

Reply

  • It may or may not impact you negatively at work, but, if it does you have legal recourse.

    You're already feeling bullied. Could being able to say "Im disabled, and you are breaking the law by treating me this way" make things worse?  If you get your diagnosis, it will not only validate that it's not your "fault", it will open doors for treatment- that could make things a lot better. With diagnosis one can access the services supporting more effective function, to feel better, and to do the things intelligence alone could not provide- things like having better relationships with people. Those things all make work, and managing the pressures of work, easier. 

    Any reasonable adjustments you need... they may not cost the earth, and to be honest, you're not the only person who they make reasonable adjustments for! 

    You would be entitled to support, and as it would be a new diagnosis AtW would pay for your initial support without contribution from your employer.

    If this were diabetes, you wouldn't worry about diagnosis, would you? Autism is not a character fault- it's a disorder, but, it doesn't just gives us problems, it also gives us strengths. You have no reason to be ashamed of yourself, and, your employer has no legitimate reason to view you less favourably. If they do, they are guilty of discrimination and you could pursue that.

    I know for myself I felt awkward when first asserting my rights, so I have had help from my union. 

    Ultimately tho, it's up to you and I hope you can find the decision that you feel comfortable with. 

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