• Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 502 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Struggles at work. Am I asking too much?

NAS93671

Hi all, I don't usually reach out for advise as I'm always concerned about the reaction I would get. This seems like a safe place to reach out. I was diagnosed with ASC in 2022 and I am now 35. I have always struggled with education and work, often jumping from one job to another to avoid getting too close to people. Anyway, back on track. I have been at my current place of work for 8 years and have moved into management. My recent struggles have been around noise. There have been loud events taking place in the main area of the building and recently this has been so loud that it caused my first meltdown in years. This started in front of people i manage and I've found it extremely difficult to get back to work following it. 

I reached out to HR and was offered a welfare meeting which I accepted, this hasn't been set up yet. Today, an email was sent to all detailing another event next week with live music. My stomach turned when I saw it. I have asked that any events are kept at a suitable volume where people can still hear each other talk when they attend. My work have told me to go to a different site or sit somewhere else in the building rather than at my desk. Completely changing my routine and meaning I would have to tell people I can't attend meetings because I'm autistic and can't cope with the noise. Am I being unreasonable? If not, what else can I do to puy my feelings across. I have already written a very open an honest email (which I found challenging) detailing my concerns.

Any advice would be appreciated. 

Thank you in advance.

Parents
  • NAS93671 said:
    My work have told me to go to a different site or sit somewhere else in the building rather than at my desk. Completely changing my routine and meaning I would have to tell people I can't attend meetings because I'm autistic and can't cope with the noise.

    I'm a little confused with this - I read it as your work are allowing Reasonable Adjustments by allowing you to move away from the noise - this adjustment will by its nature cause a change or routine.

    If you are now in a quieter area then why can you not attend meetings because of the noise? Are these meetings back in the noisy area? If so then the very Adjustments you have asked for are being removed here so you have grounds to ask for the meetings to be moved to somewhere quieter for everyone else to suit you.

    Have you tried noise cancelling headphones? This would seem a much more logical solution for meetings and your colleagues seeing you with these should make them realise that you are going out of your comfort zone for the work.

    I suspect that because you have operated in a noisy environment before then occasional forays into it should be manageable now that you are able to spend your other time in quieter areas. You have been in this sort of environment for 8 years so to now say you can't go anywhere noisy again is too much to ask for - a better balance is being provided for you which I expect will allow you reacharge opportunities that you would previously not had.

Reply
  • NAS93671 said:
    My work have told me to go to a different site or sit somewhere else in the building rather than at my desk. Completely changing my routine and meaning I would have to tell people I can't attend meetings because I'm autistic and can't cope with the noise.

    I'm a little confused with this - I read it as your work are allowing Reasonable Adjustments by allowing you to move away from the noise - this adjustment will by its nature cause a change or routine.

    If you are now in a quieter area then why can you not attend meetings because of the noise? Are these meetings back in the noisy area? If so then the very Adjustments you have asked for are being removed here so you have grounds to ask for the meetings to be moved to somewhere quieter for everyone else to suit you.

    Have you tried noise cancelling headphones? This would seem a much more logical solution for meetings and your colleagues seeing you with these should make them realise that you are going out of your comfort zone for the work.

    I suspect that because you have operated in a noisy environment before then occasional forays into it should be manageable now that you are able to spend your other time in quieter areas. You have been in this sort of environment for 8 years so to now say you can't go anywhere noisy again is too much to ask for - a better balance is being provided for you which I expect will allow you reacharge opportunities that you would previously not had.

Children
No Data