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Can an employer refuse to help via occupational health?

OAP - Older Autistic Person

Made a very hard decision to speak to my manager about ASD diagnosis and ask for Occupational Health support.

HR have refused to refer me.

My manager is now blaming me for not being expert enough in ASD to tell him what support I need as an informal agreement within work. The fact that ASD is a developmental disability that affects communication is lost on him.

...and people wonder why disabilities are not discussed in the workplace by those suffering.

Parents

  • Hello. First of all, kudos to you for deciding to speak to your manager about your diagnosis. I'm sure it wasn't easy, especially as he or she doesn't seem to make any effort to understand. 

    If you can, ask HR why they are refusing to refer you. See what they say and then ask them to reconsider accordingly.

    As for your manager... he or she clearly doesn't understand much about ASD. I know it takes effort to deal with people who don't understand, but please don't give up. Try to explain that it's not your job to be an expert - just like people who have cancer can't be expert oncologists! This is why you asked for help from Occupational Health services.

    If it's helpful to you, maybe ask for a colleague (or union rep, if you are in a union) to be with you at meetings. This so that your colleague can offer emotional support, but also so that there is a witness to what's been said. After each meeting, keep some private brief notes about what was discussed: what you asked for and what the response was. These may come in handy much later, if you need to prove that despite your best efforts your employer discriminated against you. 

    I'm not saying that you should come across as argumentative, but you do have rights and your manager putting the blame on you doesn't help at all.

    All the best.


Reply

  • Hello. First of all, kudos to you for deciding to speak to your manager about your diagnosis. I'm sure it wasn't easy, especially as he or she doesn't seem to make any effort to understand. 

    If you can, ask HR why they are refusing to refer you. See what they say and then ask them to reconsider accordingly.

    As for your manager... he or she clearly doesn't understand much about ASD. I know it takes effort to deal with people who don't understand, but please don't give up. Try to explain that it's not your job to be an expert - just like people who have cancer can't be expert oncologists! This is why you asked for help from Occupational Health services.

    If it's helpful to you, maybe ask for a colleague (or union rep, if you are in a union) to be with you at meetings. This so that your colleague can offer emotional support, but also so that there is a witness to what's been said. After each meeting, keep some private brief notes about what was discussed: what you asked for and what the response was. These may come in handy much later, if you need to prove that despite your best efforts your employer discriminated against you. 

    I'm not saying that you should come across as argumentative, but you do have rights and your manager putting the blame on you doesn't help at all.

    All the best.


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