I realised that I need to be accommodated at new job, help!

What exactly is your role in the pub? I can see that in some instances in a pub airpods wouldn't be seen as reasonable. For example, waiting tables - would you be able to hear the customer properly or in the kitchen - would it be a health and safety issue as you couldn't fully hear.

I think the advice Bunny has given you is excellent but whilst doing this I think you need to consider why an employer may not see it as reasonable at the same time as explaining why you need the reasonable adjustment. By pre-empting their responses you may be able to come up with a justification as to how it could be made reasonable.

Another thought is have you tried loop earplugs? These can be used to lower overwhelming noise but still be able to hear people talking to you etc. Perhaps this could be a compromise?

I must admit for my own needs I agree with Iain - working in a busy pub sounds like an autism nightmare to me. But I would think the same about McDonalds.

You need to do the right thing for you and your needs though. Discussing it with the boss is the only way to do this. But take some time to get your thoughts on to paper so you can fully discuss it.

Employers are required to consider reasonable adjustments - if you can do the work with your air pods in, I would have thought that adjustment was reasonable, so I suggest discussing that with your manager.

Other things I would suggest is asking for shifts during quieter periods and making your contract temporary to begin with, so you can see if it's a good fit, and having a regular review meeting with your manager. 

Wishing you luck

Hi - welcome to the community and congratulations on your new job!

Totallyphoenixx said:

I don’t know what accommodations I can request for at work and I don’t know how or where to start.

To start with, I suggest reading the following resources. They explain your rights in respect of support at work, and offer examples of the kinds of reasonable adjustments that you're entitled to request:

NAS - What support can I get at work as an autistic person?

NAS - What are reasonable adjustments and when can they be requested?

NAS - What can I do if I’m having trouble at work?

Totallyphoenixx said:

he told me that our boss wouldn’t allow for something like that

I suggest asking your boss directly - maybe in writing, if you'd find it easier. It's perhaps not surprising that your manager's initial reaction was to say no, as they might not have a full understanding that the whole point of reasonable adjustments is to make changes to what's normally done or what's normally allowed in order to accommodate your disability-related needs. 

With that in mind, when asking your boss, I'd suggest explaining - in respect of headphones, and any other adjustments that might be helpful (such as access to a quiet room, for example) - why you need an adjustment, what specific adjustment you'd like to request, and what the benefits are to them, as your employer, of providing it.

To help with this, the first article above offers a list examples of adjustments across various areas that can cause issues for autistic people: 

NAS - Resource: Common examples of reasonable adjustments

In respect of a loud working environment, it includes this example:

What issue / challenge are you facing?

I am much more sensitive to sounds, visual stimuli (like lights), smells and/or touch than non-autistic people.

What is the disadvantage to you (compared to non-autistic employees)?

I can become overwhelmed by sensory inputs, which are distracting and affect my ability to focus on tasks. Additionally, I can become burnt out from the stress and effort of trying to focus while experiencing sensory overwhelm.

Example of an adjustment [more are listed in the document - I've only included a couple of them here]

I am provided with / allowed to wear noise-cancelling headphones or noise-blocking earbuds.

I have access to a quiet space if I need it, such as a meeting or conference room (that is not usually used for people to work alone or rest in), or a dedicated quiet space is provided.

Legal type of reasonable adjustment

Provide extra equipment or service.

Change to the way the employer usually does things.

Benefits to you and to your employer

I am no longer distracted or overwhelmed by my environment. I am less stressed and more productive as a result.

Why the adjustment may be reasonable

- it effectively overcomes the disadvantage
- has no or a low cost
- doesn’t cause disruption
- has no effect on health and safety.

Other areas where reasonable adjustments might help include in respect of communication and social situations, flexibility and predictability, and workload and task management - with detailed examples also provided via the above link. 

Even if you decide that this job isn't right for you, having some reasonable adjustments might help you to continue working whilst you look for a different one.

Totallyphoenixx said:

This is stressing me out because I can’t afford to not have a job.

I think a pub environment is not a good match for your needs to be honest - it is pretty in-your-face, often busy and when you have to start dealing with drunk customers can become very stressful.

Honestly if you are working in the front of house (ie behind the bar) then you are going to be in a hostile environment for your senses. I doubt there is much you can realistically do to mitigate this.

Maybe you can ask to work on anything that is not front-of-house, e.g. stock management, cleaning, cooking, maybe a bit of office work.

Sorry it isn't better news but a busy, noisy pub would be my idea of hell.