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Is doing a good job about fitting in? Or doing it well?

longman

I thought it worth posing this questions as it underlies a lot of the problems faced by people on the spectrum in obtaining employment.

We currently live in a society where fitting in is more important than ability to do a good job. The work place is a social environbment. Many hours of productivity are lost by the amount of time frittered away by employees socialising on the job, when they should be getting down to it. Promotion often depends on joining Round Table or Freemasons, whether your partner is a good cook and has people round for candlelit suppers.

The BIG problem for this country atr the moment is the capacity of employees to waste time at work.

People on the spectrum have the unusual and valuable talent of being able to focus on a job and stay with it to completion. They don't need social displacement activity.

Yet often they cannot gain or hold down a job, primarily because they cannot do the social bit.

British employers should wake up to the value of hard working committed employees not being allowed to work just because they cannot socialise.

Parents

  • It is interesting then to look at a NAS factsheet for employers: Recruiting Someone with Autism (including Asperger's Syndrome).

    "People with autism typically experience problems with communication, social interaction and changes in routine, and may need some simple support within the workplace. Nevertheless many do well in jobs that require these skills, including some in senior positions. As well as their individual strengths and talents, candidates with autism often demonstrate above-average skills in some or all of the following areas:

    high levels of concentration

    reliability, conscientiousness and efficiency

    accuracy, close attention to detail and the ability to identify errors

    technical ability such as in IT

    detailed factual knowledge, and an excellent memory

    This means that someone who has autism may be better at a particular job than someone who does not".

    Well I do wonder whether employers (recruiters are seldom that high up management) see this as a favourable reference. It starts with no capacity to fit in socially. Then goes on to suggest they will be diligent grafters, quick to spot where things are going wrong, and will definately be after your job!

    That is NOT a recommendation to employ someone with autism.

    Also after coming up with the statistic that more than 4 out of 5 people on the spectrum don't find long term employment, how does NAS come up with phrases like "many do well......including some in senior positions".

    Sadly most of NAS's factsheets are platitudes. They don't demonstrate any real understanding. They don't do us any favours.

Reply

  • It is interesting then to look at a NAS factsheet for employers: Recruiting Someone with Autism (including Asperger's Syndrome).

    "People with autism typically experience problems with communication, social interaction and changes in routine, and may need some simple support within the workplace. Nevertheless many do well in jobs that require these skills, including some in senior positions. As well as their individual strengths and talents, candidates with autism often demonstrate above-average skills in some or all of the following areas:

    high levels of concentration

    reliability, conscientiousness and efficiency

    accuracy, close attention to detail and the ability to identify errors

    technical ability such as in IT

    detailed factual knowledge, and an excellent memory

    This means that someone who has autism may be better at a particular job than someone who does not".

    Well I do wonder whether employers (recruiters are seldom that high up management) see this as a favourable reference. It starts with no capacity to fit in socially. Then goes on to suggest they will be diligent grafters, quick to spot where things are going wrong, and will definately be after your job!

    That is NOT a recommendation to employ someone with autism.

    Also after coming up with the statistic that more than 4 out of 5 people on the spectrum don't find long term employment, how does NAS come up with phrases like "many do well......including some in senior positions".

    Sadly most of NAS's factsheets are platitudes. They don't demonstrate any real understanding. They don't do us any favours.

Children
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