• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 10 subscribers
  • Views 268 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Looking for Advice on Workplace Difficulties and Advocacy Support

MrTomFoolery

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for guidance about a difficult situation at work. I’m currently in the last days of a mental health leave. The leave was triggered by intense pressure to improve my performance under threat of dismissal. I’ve been having weekly review meetings, and the tone has been very critical, which has pushed me into an unhealthy mindset. I work as a web developer and am required to be in the office; requests to work from home were declined because of my performance.

This is the third time in a year I’ve needed time off for my mental health. After the previous episode, we started discussing workplace adjustments to help manage stress and improve performance. However, after speaking with my therapist about the most recent issues, I’ve realized that many of my struggles are closely tied to my autism. I have difficulty focusing, I’m very quiet in meetings, and the harsh language used in the weekly reviews triggers strong emotional responses. I also get overwhelmed easily, especially when my workflow is disrupted by sudden requests from clients or colleagues. One of the biggest triggers before my recent leave was being told I was only 5% into a two‑day project despite having logged 16 hours. I had no idea how to respond or why I was apparently so slow. I now understand that without appropriate accommodations, my autism can significantly affect my working speed and ability to cope — and that this needs to be recognized and supported.

For my return to work, I need to emphasis that my autism requires proper accommodation. My therapist strongly recommended that I get an advocate to support me in these weekly meetings and help ensure I’m receiving appropriate adjustments. I’m seeing my GP later today to request a referral to my local NHS autism service who I am hoping can provide the advocate, or at least point me in the right direction.

What I’d like to know is:

  • Has anyone been in a similar situation, and what helped you

  • How can I make sure I’m receiving the right support and adjustments

  • How should I respond when work says I don’t know what support I need, or that the support they’ve offered isn’t enough

  • If anyone has advice on receiving an advocate at work

Any advice or shared experiences would be really appreciated.

Thank you

  • Start looking for another job. They're already decided to force you out and are building a paper trail.

  • The situation sucks.

    The advice from Bluelyn is sound.

    I would ask for a referral to Occupational Health. Get everything in writing, you made need it later.

    I found myself in a similar situation at work just as I was diagnosed. My manager did not accept my requests for adjustments and ignored occ health advice. I was excluded from my role and placed into temporary positions. Effectively my career was ended.

    I am now on a countdown for my employment tribunal in the next couple of months.

    You need to frame your adjustments requests around your autism saying why you need something. Supposedly the law (Equality Act) is on your side. Do your employers know about your autism? If not tell them as then they cannot claim ignorance.

    I empathise with you having being gone through and still am what you are going through. It is not easy and you need to be strong.

    Have a look at valla website. You will find lots of information regarding employment tribunals and the law.

    Stay strong and best of luck

  • Hi and welcome to the community.

    The NAS has some resources about employment that you might find useful in respect of your questions.

    They include, for example:

    NAS - What support can I get at work as an autistic person?

    NAS - What can I do if I’m having trouble at work?

    And this article, which also includes some practical resources:

    NAS - What are reasonable adjustments and when can they be requested?

    One of those practical resources is a linked PDF that lists common examples of reasonable adjustments across different areas of autistic need. For each, it explains the disadvantage suffered, examples of adjustments, what legal categories they fall under, what the benefits of the adjustment are to the autistic person and to their employer, and why the adjustment might be reasonable.

    Many of the articles also include insights (ie advice, sharing of experience, etc) from other autistic people.

  • I would consider two things 

    • Ask your GP for a referral to an occupational health service, you can also ask your employer to do the same.

    An occupational health report carries significant weight with employers because it comes from a medical professional and frames adjustments as clinical recommendations rather than personal requests.

    • Request a Workplace Needs Assessment

    Under the equality act you have a right to request reasonable adjustments and a WNA can help work with you and your employer to identify the correct reasonable adjustments that will support you. This can be done via access to work, but the waiting time is so long I wouldn't suggest that.

    • Framing the Impact of Constant Reviews

    When raising this formally, the language that tends to land well is rooted in the Equality Act 2010. Your autism is a protected characteristic, and your employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments. You can write to HR (email is best it creates a paper trail) and state clearly:

    1. You have a diagnosis of autism which constitutes a disability under the Equality Act
    2. The current weekly review format, including critical/evaluative language, is a known trigger that significantly impairs your executive functioning and can cause meltdowns
    3. This amounts to a provision, criterion or practice that places you at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled colleagues
    4. You are requesting a formal workplace needs assessment to identify appropriate adjustments

    Keep it factual and clinical in tone. You're not complaining, you're invoking a legal framework. You could possibly get ACAS to help you with wording.

  • Hi Mr Tom Foolery, sorry to hear you've had a hard time with your employer. Have you heard about or tried Exceptional Individuals? Here's a link, their website explains better than I could: https://exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/workplace-needs-assessments/

    I didn't end up getting a workplace needs assessment because I realised it's my actual role that's the issue, so it's more of an HR thing for me, it's quite thankless and my line manager clearly has no clue what to do with me but I'm not having to endure the kind of thing you are. No wonder you've had to take mental health leave. 

    Anyway, I spoke to exceptional individuals on the phone and they were really nice and kind and took the time to properly listen and understand my circumstances. Even if they can't help you just now, they might be able to sign post you to something useful.

    Good luck. I hope you get the support you need.

  • Hey, sorry you've not had replies, I saw you said you were on the last few days of leave, you going back to work next week?
    Sounds like you've had a difficult time of it, I don't really have any advice on asking for accomodations, I do work remotely. It's a shame they won't allow it because of performance, when being at home is what might make your performance go up! Maybe you could argue to give you a trial to prove yourself, as it might be easier for them than accomodations at the office.

    Maybe someone else knows more about it, I haven't had to tell my work yet, but I do wish you well and best of luck advocating for yourself. I think you need to keep records of your interactions, people often say that here I think?

    All the best.