I counted up this week that I've had 50 jobs through my lifetime, and I've quit every single one of them. It's been exhausting. The saddest thing about this is that had I had a (much) earlier autism diagnosis, I don't think this number would be any different.
The thing is, this works for everyone! Just listen to people with needs and wants in the workplace. Not hard. If I tell you to not change up the process all the time, just listen to that.
I live in the Netherlands and I was helped with goverment funding to a job after years of struggeling with getting jobs but also losing them on my own. This was in 2022. (Diagnosed in my thirties it was still a struggle to get and keep a job because the knowledge for women and autism was low) Ajustments where made for me and I finally thought this is it for me. I was happy. But after 2 and half years the funding stopped and suddenly everything became a problem for the company I worked for. Now I'm at home again completely burned out and lost all my trust in everybody and everything. My plan now is to apply for disability benefits I'm 47, I'm tired 😔
At my current company, there is space on your performance reviews to tell your manager how they can better support you. On my last review, I wrote that while I understood that urgent situations sometimes arise, it would be really helpful if she gave me notice before calling me for a meeting, as ad hoc meetings disrupt my work flow and make me less productive. In her response, which is now a part of my permanent record at the company, she used my (reasonable) suggestion for how she could support my success as evidence that I am somehow not adaptable, inflexible, and unable to grasp that ad hoc meetings are sometimes needed in our fast-paced environment (even though I literally prefaced my suggestion by acknowledging this). This accommodation would have been simple and free, and it probably would be helpful and respectful for NT's too. That afternoon I applied for a job in another dept, and now I am very lucky to have a manager who inherently understands that people are all different, and I don't need to out myself or explain anything. It is wonderful, and I wish all managers were like this!
I had an employer recently treat me like crap. I drew some boundaries with them that I expected would be respected. Instead, they assume they can cross them at will. Instead of firing me when I disobeyed a petty micromanagement, they feel they can give me two weeks off at their convenience, going on vacation and giving me time off so they don't have to schedule work for me. They feel that I will come back to them, because it's the perfect job for me, and my dog is allowed to go to work with me. They do not understand autism. After three text correspondences, they still think I am going to crawl back to them after they disrespected me because my work conditions are ideal. They do not understand autism. I will never go back to them, even if I was homeless and sleeping in a gutter. Another example of people taking advantage and stepping on an autist.
I am a Safety & Wellbeing Professional. I have worked in HR Departments and teams for years. I am autistic. I have been trying to progress my HR career and struggling with this very issue. I have been considering building a team (Something like an ASPVENGERS initiative) to address these challenges and present solutions to employers of autistic employees. DEI policies tend to cover minority groups of smaller and comparable size groups to Autistic people. I feel that we need to be heard.
I'm fortunate that I work for an employer that allows me to work from home for the last 5 years. It is absolutely the best way for them to get the most out of me as an employee. I struggled a long time with sensory overload and burnout working in offices before that and I have a constant fear of one day potentially having to go back to that but I know I will have to find the right employer for me again, I just don't believe there is that many to be willing to allow an employee with autism to work from home full time (at least in the UK). This video raises an important conversation!
As autistic people we all have different ways of communicating and emotional & sensory needs, so it’s important for bosses to ask and their employees what their needs are and be flexible in accommodating them. The common theme with our needs is that they are usually very basic, logical and easy to facilitate.
Every Day. My last employer, I informed my immediate supervisor that I was on the spectrum she then did everything I told that would be counter productive to a positive work environment. I didn't even try to fight her, I just got another job, this was a little over two years ago.
Because I have a social impairment, often my brutal honesty is a double edged sword. Apart from my ergonomic chair, no-one needs to make any further adjustments in my situation.
I have had close to 20 jobs in the last 3 years because of my employers breaking the law and getting away with it. I have been treated SO horrible! All I want to do is work and they won't let me.
The only thing I have asked is to be rostered on from 7am to 12pm. 5 hours a day. I only make myself available at those times, which is acceptableto the company - in fact, they encourage it. I've spoken to my (ditzy) boss about my need for structure and my limits both autistically and physically (I have awful arthritis and the job is heavily physical). And STILL she rosters me from 7am till 1pm, sometimes 2pm. 😡🤬 WTAF?
The issue is other people. Why are you getting special treatment? Or... If I give THEM SOMETHING... EVERYONE is going to want something. Stupid but true.
I had a manager who would pull me into complex calls and not explain the situation and expect me to take the lead and fix things, then drop off the call. I spoke to them and explained how I found this extremely stressful and many times I wasn’t able to help because the issue wasn’t covered by our team (once I figured it out). They accused me of ‘poor customer service’ and would call me 5-6 times in a row when I was on another call to try it again. I ignored them and they’d get others to spam me with calls! I finally started blocking off times in my calendar to focus and signed off all my messaging apps. It was even worse in the office, they’d hunt me down and there was nowhere I could go to focus (open office and glass walls for meeting rooms). 😢
I work in an all-neurodivergent workplace and it makes ALL the difference. No issues like I experienced at other places. I thrive now!
Wow. My biggest issues come with working with other nd's that don't follow the rules .
hey good for u 😊 nice to know u are thriving. may I know what company are u working at?
"People are just so wilfully cruel." Yes, indeed.
I counted up this week that I've had 50 jobs through my lifetime, and I've quit every single one of them. It's been exhausting. The saddest thing about this is that had I had a (much) earlier autism diagnosis, I don't think this number would be any different.
That resonates with me. 🙏🏻
The thing is, this works for everyone! Just listen to people with needs and wants in the workplace. Not hard. If I tell you to not change up the process all the time, just listen to that.
I live in the Netherlands and I was helped with goverment funding to a job after years of struggeling with getting jobs but also losing them on my own. This was in 2022.
(Diagnosed in my thirties it was still a struggle to get and keep a job because the knowledge for women and autism was low)
Ajustments where made for me and I finally thought this is it for me. I was happy.
But after 2 and half years the funding stopped and suddenly everything became a problem for the company I worked for. Now I'm at home again completely burned out and lost all my trust in everybody and everything.
My plan now is to apply for disability benefits
I'm 47, I'm tired 😔
Good on you, that's so very brave
I've recently made the same decision, and I feel so relieved
At my current company, there is space on your performance reviews to tell your manager how they can better support you. On my last review, I wrote that while I understood that urgent situations sometimes arise, it would be really helpful if she gave me notice before calling me for a meeting, as ad hoc meetings disrupt my work flow and make me less productive. In her response, which is now a part of my permanent record at the company, she used my (reasonable) suggestion for how she could support my success as evidence that I am somehow not adaptable, inflexible, and unable to grasp that ad hoc meetings are sometimes needed in our fast-paced environment (even though I literally prefaced my suggestion by acknowledging this). This accommodation would have been simple and free, and it probably would be helpful and respectful for NT's too. That afternoon I applied for a job in another dept, and now I am very lucky to have a manager who inherently understands that people are all different, and I don't need to out myself or explain anything. It is wonderful, and I wish all managers were like this!
Keep coming with the content like this! Orion, I always watch you for your candor and kindness. I love this. ❤
I had an employer recently treat me like crap. I drew some boundaries with them that I expected would be respected. Instead, they assume they can cross them at will.
Instead of firing me when I disobeyed a petty micromanagement, they feel they can give me two weeks off at their convenience, going on vacation and giving me time off so they don't have to schedule work for me.
They feel that I will come back to them, because it's the perfect job for me, and my dog is allowed to go to work with me.
They do not understand autism. After three text correspondences, they still think I am going to crawl back to them after they disrespected me because my work conditions are ideal.
They do not understand autism. I will never go back to them, even if I was homeless and sleeping in a gutter.
Another example of people taking advantage and stepping on an autist.
I am a Safety & Wellbeing Professional. I have worked in HR Departments and teams for years. I am autistic.
I have been trying to progress my HR career and struggling with this very issue.
I have been considering building a team (Something like an ASPVENGERS initiative) to address these challenges and present solutions to employers of autistic employees.
DEI policies tend to cover minority groups of smaller and comparable size groups to Autistic people. I feel that we need to be heard.
I'm fortunate that I work for an employer that allows me to work from home for the last 5 years. It is absolutely the best way for them to get the most out of me as an employee. I struggled a long time with sensory overload and burnout working in offices before that and I have a constant fear of one day potentially having to go back to that but I know I will have to find the right employer for me again, I just don't believe there is that many to be willing to allow an employee with autism to work from home full time (at least in the UK). This video raises an important conversation!
As autistic people we all have different ways of communicating and emotional & sensory needs, so it’s important for bosses to ask and their employees what their needs are and be flexible in accommodating them.
The common theme with our needs is that they are usually very basic, logical and easy to facilitate.
Every Day. My last employer, I informed my immediate supervisor that I was on the spectrum she then did everything I told that would be counter productive to a positive work environment. I didn't even try to fight her, I just got another job, this was a little over two years ago.
I enjoyed what you had to say on Orion Kelly's channel. So I'm going to start with your oldest one and watch them all.
Fantastic 👍
Agree Orion reasonable adjustments don't necessarily mean more money needed!
Active noise canceling earbuds lower my daily stress way down.
You are exactly right ❤
Because I have a social impairment, often my brutal honesty is a double edged sword. Apart from my ergonomic chair, no-one needs to make any further adjustments in my situation.
I have had close to 20 jobs in the last 3 years because of my employers breaking the law and getting away with it. I have been treated SO horrible! All I want to do is work and they won't let me.
The only thing I have asked is to be rostered on from 7am to 12pm. 5 hours a day. I only make myself available at those times, which is acceptableto the company - in fact, they encourage it. I've spoken to my (ditzy) boss about my need for structure and my limits both autistically and physically (I have awful arthritis and the job is heavily physical).
And STILL she rosters me from 7am till 1pm, sometimes 2pm. 😡🤬
WTAF?
1:50 Nordstrom is one of those companies.
The issue is other people.
Why are you getting special treatment?
Or...
If I give THEM SOMETHING... EVERYONE is going to want something.
Stupid but true.
My adjustment is just only working at home as a freelancer.
…feels like walking the red (mud) carpet yet I’m a daydreaming…flashes, pictures, flashes, pictures…(exhaustion)
I had a manager who would pull me into complex calls and not explain the situation and expect me to take the lead and fix things, then drop off the call. I spoke to them and explained how I found this extremely stressful and many times I wasn’t able to help because the issue wasn’t covered by our team (once I figured it out). They accused me of ‘poor customer service’ and would call me 5-6 times in a row when I was on another call to try it again. I ignored them and they’d get others to spam me with calls!
I finally started blocking off times in my calendar to focus and signed off all my messaging apps. It was even worse in the office, they’d hunt me down and there was nowhere I could go to focus (open office and glass walls for meeting rooms). 😢