For Autistic Employees
The Environment
For autistic employees, the work environment can be particularly significant. There is a growing trend towards shared office spaces and hot-desking which can be extremely stressful for some autistic people. Shared office spaces can make it more difficult to focus due to noise, smell and other visual distractions. Some employees also find it difficult to share resources such as stationery as other people will not necessarily keep things in an ordered and tidy manner.
Strategies
- It is helpful to identify a quiet space (even if this is the toilet) where you can retreat to for some personal space when you need it.
- To reduce noise distraction, it may be helpful to put earplugs in while you work. Earplugs or listening to music with earphones shut out distracting noises and send a message to colleagues that you are not available.
- If you find visual distractions overwhelming, you can put up a temporary screen around your desk to create a physical barrier. These are readily available from many office furniture stores.
- If you are sensitive to light, you may benefit from wearing a hat to provide some screening.
- If you become frustrated by the way that peers leave the stationery, it can be helpful to have your own pencil case which you carry around with you.
Unwritten office rules
There are many unwritten office rules which govern the behaviour of employees at work. Failure to adhere to these rules can become a source of conflict. Autistic individuals rarely intend to offend and are often confused by reactions because they are not aware of the rules in the first place.
Unwritten rules cover things like:
- making tea or coffee for others when you get for yourself
- using shared crockery and cutlery or bringing your own
- contributing to the cost of tea, coffee and milk
- eating or storing food in the fridge or cupboards
- washing up
- offering to buy lunch for others when you go out to get your own
- checking with others / management about annual leave dates / time off for medical appointments, children’s event etc.
- closing doors, turning off the lights and locking up if you are the last to leave
- saying good morning and goodbye to colleagues
- etiquette for requesting a meeting with someone
- leaving spaces next to colleagues in meetings especially if the room is not full
- contributing money for gifts when colleagues have a special day such as a birthday, wedding etc.
- what to do if you are late or ill
Strategies
- Don’t be afraid to ask. When you first join the company, it is quite normal to ask about office etiquette. But even if you have been there a while, it is perfectly OK to ask for clarification.
- If you are comfortable disclosing your diagnosis, then you may want to give somebody permission to let you know if you are unintentionally violating office rules.
Social and Communication Challenges
Communicating well and socialising at work is a powerful way of putting other people at ease and facilitating the work process. These skills are like the oil in a car engine. Without them, things do not function well and may even stop working altogether.
You do not need to be a master but there are some guidelines which will help with regards to effective communication and social interaction at work.
Strategies
- Colleagues are not friends. They are people you know and you may see them every day but you need to keep some distance in the relationship.
- Do not discuss personal or intimate issues. Keep the conversation light and shallow. Small talk or banter is conversation that we have for the purposes of connecting not necessarily for gaining information. These connections then enable us to work well with our colleagues on other tasks – oil in the engine.
- Always greet your colleagues with eye contact and a smile in the morning.
- If there is an opportunity for small talk, for example, when you’re standing next to someone at the photocopier or making tea / coffee, this is your chance. Ask questions such as, “How was your weekend?” (if it is Monday), “How are you?”, “How is x going?” Safe topics include the weather, sport and recent news events. Look interested (even if you are faking) by giving eye contact and nodding on occasion.
- Banter is a kind of small talk where the content is playful, humorous and teasing. People may, for example, insult a colleague, but the intention is not to offend or hurt. It is a kind of compliment. For example, if some comes in wearing wellie boots (because it is raining) or trainers (because they had to walk a long distance) with smart office clothing and someone else says “love the shoes” in a sarcastic tone, this is an opportunity for banter. The correct response here is not to say, “I am wearing my wellies because it is raining”. The correct response is to enter the game and respond with something like, “Aren’t they gorgeous? Tesco’s’ finest”.
- Networking. Many companies organise evening events such as dinners or trips to activities. Autistic people may dread these events because of the high emotional and mental cost of going and are often tempted to avoid them. You do need to keep your emotional health in check and there will be times when attending is simply not an option. However, these events are important for connecting. This is often where relationships are formed and it helps facilitate joint working during office hours. Conversations in these environments will tend to focus on “fun” and usually take the form of small talk or banter. Serious topics such as politics, religion, education and healthcare are usually a “no-go” area here.
Difficult Aspects of your Job
Many autistic individuals are highly skilled at aspects of their jobs but they may be required to do certain things that make them feel very uncomfortable. For example, giving presentations at meetings, making phone calls to other companies, tight deadlines and dealing with change. If there are aspects to your employment that you find difficult, speak to someone about it. It is more helpful to address the issue and get support in place than end up leaving or ill because it eventually becomes overwhelming and affects other areas of performance.
