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Work adjustments

Kim

Hi everyone,

 I’m having some problems at work, and I need extra help. 
I disclosed my autism to the management team including HR, I asked for some reasonable adjustments. Including a quiet room to work in, meeting agendas in advance and the best ways to communicate with me. Unfortunately, the only adjustment made was the quiet room and now they are trying to persuade me back into the main office.

one of the staff complained to HR about me, they didn’t like my tone of voice and “the way I looked frustrated with them” during a meeting. That was the quote from HR. The staff member doesn’t know I’m autistic just the managers. HR have no training in neurodivergence and keep pushing me, so I’m heavily masking every day which is causing my health to fail. 

I need someone to advocate for me but I don’t know where I can get help from. 

  • in reply to Tink

    Thank you for your advice. I will contact the organisation you mentioned 

  • Hi Kim,

    First let me say well done because I think you have been really brave telling your workplace about your autism. Its not easy to self advocate  given we never really know how the news will be perceived.

    I am thinking you could contact an organisation called Inspiring Progress. They are an Autism advocacy organisation that can support advocacy in education or in the workplace. 

    I completely understand that sometimes things just get too much, or too complex and what you really need is for someone to have your back. I have been in this situation with educational establishments; I just couldn't deal with the problem and needed someone else to help me. Its not a sign of weakness, its a sign of strength and you clearly recognise its starting to get too much.

    https://inspiringprogress.org.uk/#

    Contact these people and see if they can help you mediate with your workplace. It sounds to me that your whole workplace needs autism training and a program of training that incorporates all staff would be beneficial. You may feel that it isn't really safe to disclose things any wider until after this training happens. HR should be protecting you in this situation and currently they are not. From a safeguarding perspective, you are vulnerable and they should be stepping up support not pushing you to do more. Think Safeguarding law and mention it! Think Equality and Diversity Act 2010 and mention it!

    Look after yourself. Lots of self care whilst this is working itself out. Good luck.

  • Hello Kim, I'm sorry you are having a hard time here.

    Kim said:
    HR have no training in neurodivergence and keep pushing me

    What are they pushing you to do?

    Kim said:
    The staff member doesn’t know I’m autistic

    In the absence of knowledge that you are autistic then it is reasonable that the staff think you are neurotypical so will treat you as they would one of their "own". If you need to get this under control then you may want to ask your manager to explain back to you how they understand your autism affects the team and how they should interact with you - then when they have it right ask them to explain it to the team.

    The vast majority of people don't understand autism so having a person of authority explain what they should / shouldn't do is a good option.

    The HR team probably don't have much experience in handling autistic staff so a good point to start could be to direct them to a high level explanation ( eg https://autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism ) and tell them what your particular needs / triggers are.

    It helps to take control even if it does attract attention to yourself. Getting people worried that they may be treating a disabled person badly and that they could be liable for disciplinary hearings or worse is a good way to keep them in their lane.

    The better ones will still be nice and the problem ones may need calling out on it from time to time, but that is the price for keeping them off our back (in my experience).

    Kim said:
    Unfortunately, the only adjustment made was the quiet room and now they are trying to persuade me back into the main office.

    I'm actually surprised that they offered you this. I've not found any company that would go this far unless for someone working on sensitive info.

    My advice is to treat it as a win for as long as you have it - know it may be taken away but savour it for all it is worth while you have it, this way it is less of a blow when you are back in the trenches.