Autism in the Workplace

As we get into the spring and summer months, it isn't just a time that we get excited for beer gardens and hopes of sunny weather. It's also a time to spread awareness for mental health and disabilities including Mental Health Awareness which was just last week.

Another awareness highlighted during this time of year is Autism Awareness Month every April. Although Autism has been made aware for over 100 years, It was believed just one in 2,600 children had Autism; now it is considered to be one in 36. It's through more awareness and understanding of autism that has led to the rise of children and adults in the UK being diagnosed.

So, with the rise in awareness and diagnosis, it's more important than ever that businesses and employers can adapt and adjust when needed. But before anything can be put into place, you first need to understand autism and what it can be like day-to-day for someone in the ASD community.

'My experience with Autism in work'

Gavin Winchester , one of our Salesforce recruitment experts has autism and ADHD. For Gavin, sharing his experiences and thought processes is important as it highlights what many will go through daily in the workplace.

Plus, it allows employers and colleagues to understand why someone may do or say certain things differently to others, and what can be done to ensure that someone with autism feels accommodated.

But instead of explaining with boring old bullet points, we compiled Gavin's experiences in a CV format explaining his day-to-day at work.

How businesses can be more ASD-inclusive in the workplace

If we started to discuss ALL the ways to make businesses more ASD-inclusive, we'd be here for a long time...but here a some of the ways that employers and businesses can start;

Training - The best way to assist anyone in the workplace with autism...is to understand autism. With free online courses and non-profit organisations offering training for employers and employees, it's easier than ever to ensure that you're able to assist your team.

Quiet Spaces - If your office is one big room with no separate spaces, this would be a great opportunity to look at creating a quiet area. Not only would this benefit those with autism, but great for anyone who needs to concentrate on important tasks.

Be Specific - When giving a task or instructions, make sure you're specific in what you're looking for. People with autism can't always visualise the same thing as you, so ensure they have the full picture.

Give them time - Like Gavin said, what may take 10 minutes for you, may take 30 minutes for someone with autism. So if you need something the same day (e.g., reports), make sure that you give them plenty of time to complete.

Make them feel part of the team - The idea of heading to the pub after work on a Friday or organising a fun-filled event at the end of the quarter is great for most...but not for everyone. It's much easier for someone with autism to become overwhelmed in load environments, so remember to also do activities that are suitable for them.

Autism@Work at Salesforce

Back in 2019, Salesforce started to develop a program called Autism@Work that would help those within the ASD population the opportunity not just to gain employment, but to be offered the support and guidance needed to help them succeed. Intending to be a global program, Salesforce is paving the way to becoming more inclusive as a global company which may then inspire others to follow suit.

Conclusion

In the UK alone unemployment for people with autism is at 78% . As for employers, a study conducted in 2020 showed that 50% would not hire someone with a neurodivergent condition, which includes autism.

People with autism aren't able to secure work not because of their neurodiversity or the inability to do the job, but because many businesses (and the job markets) aren't yet tailored to them. However, companies and sectors are now starting to realise this and finally working with the ASD community, but there is still more to be done.

If you're an employer, you don't need to change everything to help someone with autism succeed, yet just small changes can make a huge difference.