Published on 12, July, 2020
HI,
I was diagnosed late around a year ago. I have spent some time unemployed mainly caused by Covid lockdown. However, I have a job in hospitality that I have been at now for about 8 months.
I will preface this with some context:
I got this job through the Autism at Work Programme and though I enjoy the work and most of my colleagues, there has always been some issues with senior management. They were offered training about autistic employees in the workplace several times which they did not take. They were also given my autism profile to help them understand what is helpful to me at work and what is not. In the profile I explained that I have some problems with task switching and that whilst I might not look busy, I am actually processing one task to the next - my boss said he understood this and that I was doing fine.
One shift, I asked my boss if I could go home early (I had about 3 hours left of my shift and had powered through the most of it) because I had a bad headache. He proceeded to shout at me, telling me I was not being a team player, I was letting everyone down and that a headache was not a reason to go home. Then he left the room and told another coworker (loudly) that he bets I won't come in the next day and that I am using my headache as an excuse to be off work. I don't think it was right or fair of him to disclose my medical business loudly so that many people could overhear and also perceive me as being sly and a liar.
On my rota, my days off are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I have already explained at work that I get headaches from time to time, and that they are made worse by stress and the energy it takes to mask. One Wednesday a few weeks ago, I called in sick because I had a migraine. My boss accused me of taking this Wednesday off so that it would mean I had four days off in a row and that it is 'convinient' that my sick days overlap with my day off. He does not seem to understand that, with the way the rota is organised, ANY sick day I have will ALWAYS overlap with my days off?
This week I was called into HR and completely blindsided by a conversation about how my absences are jepordising my role. I have not had many absences at all - the most was when I had Covid and was told by my boss and HR to not come in and that I had cover, but 99% of the time I like to think I am a reliable employee. They also mentioned that I was not productive - when I asked what I can do to fix this, I was told 'be more proactive and look busy' which is vague and unhelpful.
I am in a constant state of anxiety at work which drains me further. I am looking for advice really - on job coaches, work mentors etc and how to go about getting them. I just want some additional protection at work because I am terrified of being fired. I also feel that I am not being taken seriously about my autism at work because the things on my autism profile and the offered training has been ignored. Anything anyone can advise me of or your own experiences is valuable to me.
Thank you
Thank you all so much for your replies and so sorry to hear that many of you have also had these experiences, it's so upsetting that employers are like this when it takes very little effort from them to be accomodating.
I have been keeping a diary for a while and have many incidents logged. Some I have brought up with my boss or HR in the past but have been ignored. One time when I went to HR about my boss and his behaviour, he shouted at me again and told me that he couldn't work with me like this and since then I have felt anxious about bringing anything else up because my job doesn't feel secure. HR's repsonses are nothing short of gaslighting too. I am often told that my boss is a 'people pleaser' and that is why he behaves the way he does.
Another point I forgot to make in my original post was that I was told by the head of HR that I am not allowed to take my breaks at the same time any more - I have taken my breaks at the same time since I started this job and been told my my boss that it is fine to do so. These breaks mean I finish late and have a 1.5 hour commute home so by the time I get back, I am exhausted. I don't know why the head of HR has anything to do with when I take my break when my boss who I report to has said it's ok?
The Autism at Work programme has now closed unfortunately. I was given a list of resources to work with but so far nothing has been as valuable to me than the support I got from Autism at Work. So far, I have drafted a letter asking for some reasonable adjustments which are to be given 48 hours notice before any meetings or informal chats so that I can prepare or, if neccessary, have someone to support my communication needs. Also, I have asked for clear guidance on tasks that need improving other than a vague 'be proactive' as I am unsure how to interpret this.
I have also looked into the grant from the government Access to Work - I am not sure if anyone here has used this but I think it would be useful to fund a job coach and a workplace assessment. They also offer 9 months of mental health support which I think would be useful for me because going to work makes me so very anxious.