Help in the Workplace

I'm sure your support really makes a difference. I agree with the other comment about supermarkets being a bit hectic for some people (well, they did;lt say that exactly... I am saying it lol). There is quite a good, short, book about autism in the workplace. I just looked up the author and here is her website: https://www.janinebooth.com/issues-and-campaigns/autism-workplace 

The book has a picture of cogwheels on it, I can't remember the title but there is bound to be a link there.

Good luck. D

I am so sorry for those of us who struggle,but if you are in the UK and work/intend to work/have been absent from work I would advise that you do the following:

Look on the gov UK site for ACCESS TO WORK. This is a government structure to support anyone who is disabled/differently abled and this covers autism/mutism/neurodiversity. If the person is able to, refer yourself to access to work using their online form or telephone number. If needed, refer the person because they are not able to do this. Then an advisor will contact you. If you know what you need to be changed or bought in your workplace you can tell them. If you do not know what will help they will ask you to have an assessment. This is supportive and the assessor will write a report for your workplace. If you need things that will cost money Access to Work will also say howuch money they will pay towards this . It is not linked to benefits or anything else and once that report is written the workplace must consider their legal position regarding what they are doing and the Equalities act. The access to work purpose is to keep disabled people in work. If you live in the UK please use it as it is the greatest support I have ever seen for helping us to work in the UK.

One of the things that I’ve found about work and employment is that for those jobs that are considered suitable for those of us with ASD, even if we have and/or can gain the relevant skills or qualifications, we lack the relevant experience, especially if diagnosed later in life - at age 52 and being out of work for 3 years during Covid after 17 years in supermarket retailing up to Sept 2019 (out of a total of 30 years) being diagnosed online during Covid, I felt pressured by everyone to start a new job at a new-build hotel as a kitchen Porter too soon after my diagnosis, with no post-diagnostic support - the only reason I stayed in retailing for so long is that I come from a background where one’s career path was decided for you by others and you were not allowed to object, made to start your first job, any attempt to leave if not suitable was blocked, even after a few years in one job, not permitted to do any other training nor look around for other jobs (surrounded by paranoid people) told to be silent if you attempted to discuss the issue, others sent in to talk you out of it and blocked “behind the scenes” giving bad telephone references if attempts to change jobs were made “off your own bat” even without telling anyone - just over a year at my current hotel job now, it’s not up to me to change jobs, it’s up to the social workers/support workers/family and/or if I’m let go due to poor performance/behaviour issues and/or if they have other reasons - if it’s the former, I would be sanctioned if applying for benefits - yet the KP role (far more so than Public Areas) is the hardest role which I’m doing next week mixed shifts in - there is also language barriers and cultural differences when dealing with some people as well including in HR and in the other areas - I don’t want this to be acrimonious or coming across as I’m being lazy and don’t want to work and/or moaning and making lame excuses - I was once told that I don’t know the difference between bullying and discipline and don’t understand that I’m wrong by someone with an older brother with this condition who takes great pleasure in sending him into meltdown and openly brags about it all the time, even though her mother works in the area of mental health - she’s a teenager with zero patience and there are cultural differences there too 

I’m sorry for your loss, it’s really hard to loose someone especially in times when you could use their opinion and support. You are being an amazing support, for your son, I hope the meeting goes well. Quote the equality act and the right for reasonable adjustments. Also if it’s a big chain supermarket your son should be able to access their  policies online with regards to how they are supposed to be handling mental health issues. I had to do this for a colleague a few weeks back who was being mistreated due to their age. It actually worked out pretty well. 

I’m also 23, so if he ever want to discuss his work with me via messages on here. Just let me know. 

I’ve worked in supermarkets for 30 years at age 52 (not by choice) up to 2019 and I’ve known people with Autism there (long before my own diagnosis) who were bullied very badly and were eventually sacked by being falsely accused of theft in one case - the managers with the collusion of team leaders placed items and cash around his till, which the trade Union shop stewards backed up managers on, because of “partnership agreements” and they clearly wanted to get rid of him because of his “mental health issues” and “behavioural issues” - I’ve suffered no end of workplace bullying in all the supermarkets I’ve ever worked for and when I’ve tried to do anything about it, I got nowhere - and if anything they can take legal action against you for making “false” claims of bullying while they deny its going on, as it’s always been that way and always will be - even it does get to tribunal or court even the defence on your side turns against you and it’s the same outcome, you always lose - he’s young so it’s best to get out now and find something more suitable while he still can 

Thank you for your message and I totally relate to it.

My son is 23 years his dad died five years ago from cancer which was horrendous. So I find it difficult to know what's best for him.

I like your ideas and will put it to him.

I have requested a meeting with his Managers for next Thursday. 

Wish me luck

If he is over 18 (assuming so if working for 5 years) could he do a night shift with fewer/ no customers (depending on the supermarkets opening hours.) I work in a supermarket doing an evening into night shift and have selective mutism. For the most part it doesn’t matter when I can’t talk. I find it ok to talk very basic stuff to customers. It’s other members of staff that I struggle to talk to but a few people know this and help.  And there are people I am able to talk to. So maybe he needs a few trusted colleagues who can be understanding. Unfortunately my selective mutism was made worse recently by two colleagues that I trusted. So it’s very hard to find the right people.

I would say though supermarkets aren’t very autism or anxiety friendly places to work for. I mask my autism at work and it’s exhausting. Maybe look for a job that isn’t so customer focused.