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What Would ND-Inclusive Workplace Socialising "Good" Look Like?

DormouseAtRest_25

As workplaces begin to learn more about their neurodivergent staff and reasonable adjustments etc., one of the trailing topics; is how to help some socialising within the workplace become more ND-inclusive too.

"One of the first highlights from this research has been the importance of a diverse social environment for neurodivergent staff, who can benefit from more varied communication channels, and explicit networking pathways."

https://theconversation.com/social-connections-matter-for-the-well-being-of-neurodivergent-workers-adjustments-to-office-settings-and-routines-arent-enough-263449?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com

(They are planning to publish a guide on this topic sometime soon).

Have any of us worked in places were "good" effort on this front was implemented?

Parents

  • I think this is a really difficult one. There are not many people I can be social with that doesn't involve masking. I'm not sure there ever would be. I managed it quite well in my work, there are rooms that I can go to that are not the staff room and I'm fortunate to have a very understanding colleague that I generally spend lunch time with. I'm not sure what work could actually do to support me in these areas other than what is already in place that I have a person I can go and talk to when I'm unsure about a situation.

    I do struggle with group activities but again I don't know how this could be better managed for me other than not doing them. But then meetings are death by PowerPoint for everybody and that isn't fair either.

    For the big social occasions - our works do is at my workplace. It is just a very casual affair that you could easily stay for 10 minutes or 4 hours at. This works much better for me as there is no pressure to stay, I can see how I feel and leave when ever. There is no requirement to think about what I need to wear, I just wear what I'd worn during the day. The food is casual and buffet style so there is little anxiety about that and it's easy to have the excuse of driving so I don't have to worry about the pressures of drinks.

    They do do other social occasions that do involve going out for drinks etc which I don't opt to do but I think it's fair these occasions are also offered for those that enjoy it. But it is nice for there to be one that I can manage and feel a part of.

Reply

  • I think this is a really difficult one. There are not many people I can be social with that doesn't involve masking. I'm not sure there ever would be. I managed it quite well in my work, there are rooms that I can go to that are not the staff room and I'm fortunate to have a very understanding colleague that I generally spend lunch time with. I'm not sure what work could actually do to support me in these areas other than what is already in place that I have a person I can go and talk to when I'm unsure about a situation.

    I do struggle with group activities but again I don't know how this could be better managed for me other than not doing them. But then meetings are death by PowerPoint for everybody and that isn't fair either.

    For the big social occasions - our works do is at my workplace. It is just a very casual affair that you could easily stay for 10 minutes or 4 hours at. This works much better for me as there is no pressure to stay, I can see how I feel and leave when ever. There is no requirement to think about what I need to wear, I just wear what I'd worn during the day. The food is casual and buffet style so there is little anxiety about that and it's easy to have the excuse of driving so I don't have to worry about the pressures of drinks.

    They do do other social occasions that do involve going out for drinks etc which I don't opt to do but I think it's fair these occasions are also offered for those that enjoy it. But it is nice for there to be one that I can manage and feel a part of.

Children
  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

    Place A:

    Some years ago; I worked in a medium-sized team where "lets all go out for a meal" - did really mean "just a meal".  There was no expectation that it would turn into a pub crawl, nor a venue blaring karaoke etc. (I would sometimes join them for those "just a meal" social events.  Then at the end of the meal; it was our habit to all walk back to our company car park as a group - so nobody need feel ill at ease navigating the evening city streets. 

    The same place was quite sociable in the workplace kitchen - with a sofa, breakfast bar, and a few tables and chairs (different seating styles was a popular feature. 

    We used to keep a team supply of fruit lollies in the freezer - if someone thought you were struggling at work - it was not unknown for someone to offer to get you an ice lolly. 

    Sometimes, at lunchtime; a few people would walk off together to a local Butchers to choose their pasty or samosa for lunch (walking in something of a crocodile of side-by-side pairs along the pavement being easier to have a chat - almost no eye contact demand). 

    If one team was working particularly late; a manger would flex their corporate credit card and get a selection of pizzas delivered - but first they always checked for dietary requirements - and second they checked to see if our brother / sister teams also had people working late (if yes, the order would be adjusted to include them too).  When the pizzas arrived; we would take a proper break and the brother / sister team members working late would come and eat with us and be a bit sociable for the duration of the pizza munching.

    Place B:

    Another place - within a large team - they had the habit (for their Christmas Party) of booking two venue rooms next door to each other. 

    The large room would host Christmas Dinner.  Then that large room would turn into an entertainment space - casino games and a very loud nightclub / disco affair / cocktail  and beer bar / very loud music and sound effects with flashing lights and "do the conga" games etc. 

    However, in the smaller room next door; a chilled out, quieter vibe, a coffee bar style event was available for the evening if you didn't fancy the nightclub effort. 

    The Christmas Party coffee bar room was great; as it both gave people a temporary refuge to recharge their social energy, plus, in there was sufficiently less noise - that you were actually able to talk with the partner / spouse / boyfriend / girlfriend of colleagues - so you could get to know them on first meeting / a bit better. 

    Also, one of our colleagues was epileptic and the coffee bar room lighting was safely stable and muted - like a hotel lounge would be. 

    (If we had thought about it in advance - with all the tables and chairs in the coffee bar room - we could have brought a selection of board game with us to play).

    My personal pet loathing is reserved for places with poor management skills who think mandatory attendance at a puerile "team bonding" away day will solve office politics.  No, I don't want to race Segway 2-wheeler balance vehicles over an all terrain course, thanks all the same!  No, I don't want to repeatedly share helmets in go-cart relay races in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic!  Nope.