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Lying about Autism at Work

Kittera

Hi,

This is the first time I write about this.

When going for my first job (as a waitress to give you an idea) the contract asked for any mental condition, I couldn't put I had autism down. It felt pointless to me to automatically put myself down as the black sheep. Nothing to do with shame but it felt that them knowing, I might react differently. It's been three months in employment and I am afraid of getting fired already because my autism is so well obvious. I've even avoided going to the dining hall because I am afraid my behaviour could scare the customers and I've been reprimanded by my boss twice due to my "rude behaviour" don't you know.

I am scared of what comes next.

The reason I am afraid to get fired is that I lied about my contract or that another unexplained incident about my behaviour could get me fired. And you can understand why I don't want to say "Hey I am autistic" as an excuse every time. I don't know what to do... when I am working, my autism and behaviour are all I can think of. 

Any advice on how to deal with this?

Parents

  • I’m in the same situation where I work. Before the interview stage you have to do a personality test. Well I had to lie to pass it. My honest answers would have been a fail. I got the job but chose not to tell them that I am autistic as I didn’t feel it was relevant. I also didn’t tell them that I have had anxiety in the past. My anxiety is now worse than it has ever been (due to something that happened at work) and I don’t feel I can tell them. If I were you I wouldn’t tell them unless it gets to the stage where they are going to fire you. Then I would explain to them that you are autistic and explain why you didn’t tell them then. If you do need help to do your job they are required to provide reasonable adjustments so you could approach it that way. And just say that you didn’t think that you needed to tell them as you didn’t want adjustments but now you realise that you do need them. 

Reply

  • I’m in the same situation where I work. Before the interview stage you have to do a personality test. Well I had to lie to pass it. My honest answers would have been a fail. I got the job but chose not to tell them that I am autistic as I didn’t feel it was relevant. I also didn’t tell them that I have had anxiety in the past. My anxiety is now worse than it has ever been (due to something that happened at work) and I don’t feel I can tell them. If I were you I wouldn’t tell them unless it gets to the stage where they are going to fire you. Then I would explain to them that you are autistic and explain why you didn’t tell them then. If you do need help to do your job they are required to provide reasonable adjustments so you could approach it that way. And just say that you didn’t think that you needed to tell them as you didn’t want adjustments but now you realise that you do need them. 

Children
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