Published on 12, July, 2020
Currently I am struggling, probably going through a shutdown as people have noticed I’ve become withdrawn.
The cause of this is my employers, it has left me no choice but to look for another job. My manager changes my rota without asking which disturbs my routine, I am told I will never progress for promotion where I am due to my health issues although I haven’t asked for any workplace adjustments. I don’t get regular lunchtimes. When I confided in a senior at the company, he said “everyones a little autistic”.(I am a adult late diagnosed, whilst working for this company, HR never came to speak to me about it post diagnosis, pre diagnosis the HR Director said “autism is very common these days”).
I am told I should learn to adapt my autism to the work environment by a senior staff. By nature I am an introvert, and keep on getting told I need to be more outgoing and louder. As an employee my work is spot on they have no complaints I’m meticulous but I lack hitting the targets marginally and thats why I keep on getting threatened to be put on reviews, this induces anxiety and fear of losing my job. I work in a bright, noisy environment and have a customer facing job, I mask highly to get on with it, I am good at what I do, money is not the motivator, we are commission based with a basic salary. My motivation is the product I sell, its one of my special interests.
Are there other autistics who have been dealing with discrimination, bullying, underestimation of intelligence or employers not caring ?
Do you just leave and find elsewhere or challenge their ignorance and lack of training on neurodiversity?
hi i am like you and despite being so upset by the mistreatment i am also unable to deal with confrontations and will just shut down, scared that if i highlight im not happy with the treatment it will end up making the other colleagues treat me even worse!
in my last job which this happened really bad at eventually i just left, it wasn’t worth the emotional turmoil. what i did do however is write down how i truly felt in an email and sent it the day i left so i wouldn’t have to be face to face. i said basically how i was shocked that senior employees could act like this, and definitely list how it is illegal to discriminate against this- you always know more than the manager, always.
also cc in the owner of the company / head office / all HR you can find and hopefully at least one of these people will be a kind and understanding person who will be willing to take it on board and make change