Fired For Being Autistic - Workplace Adjustments For Autistic Employees

[@mariawesley7583]

Twenty years ago I was fired with the explanation "You just don't fit here". Losing my income caused the obvious hardships, but being told that it wasn't because of job performance, but because I don't fit was excruciating. I've never fit in any group I've ever been a part of, but until then I never knew I could lose my job over it.

[@danielledavis8580]

i hate that so many of us have experienced this. we should sue the whole damn world. this pisses me off! every single one of us deserves better than this. revenge of the autists, coming soon, to a "small town" near you. teehee

[@texasmurphy7088]

I've heard the same thing more than once. It's cruel on a different level.

[@darongw]

Yeah, I lost a job for the same reason. All my performance reviews were good but they decided that I didn't fit and ended my position and created 2 new lower level positions to take my place. But luckily I found a job at a much better organization and have been happy working there. Just got a promotion :)

[@richardchen7062]

Yeah also me.

[@theinudemon]

At will states in the USA here they can do that. I am autistic and had a job for 3-4 years but got fired for a rightful reason I regret.

[@emekecho2024]

Even when successfully completed an expensive education some autistic people can't still function in office type setting or in society. Even an autistic lawyer like here who knows how to reason and talk to defend themselves can't function in a neurotypcical environment. Autism requires is a world of communication based on total honesty and openness. The society needs a big update on autism education, acceptance and compassion for all. Autism is a neurologically different brain. It's not realistic for neurotypicals to expect autistic people to act like them. Different operating system. "A Mac can't act like a PC". Thank you. Awesome vids.

[@SteamboatWilley]

One problem I have had is trying to "look busy" when it's quiet. I can and will turn up on time and do everything i'm told, but when the bosses don't give you anything to do and then tell you off for not doing anything, it's very frustrating. Then when things go the other way and I'm overwhelmed I can often struggle because I'm afraid to ask for help in case people think I'm stupid or incapable. Management should be supporting you and giving you the training you need, not berating you for being "useless".

[@SquidFiction]

Fucking THIS^ has been my experience EXACTLY!! I am reliable (never missed a shift), can mask and do as I’m told as long as it’s shown properly or written down in list format, but some of these employers expect you to “tAkE iNitiaTiVE” when there’s “nothing to do” like all these “unspoken rules” in society like social queues that neurodivergent people have trouble following. Unless it’s “obvious” or I’m told (shown) what to do, then I won’t do it. I’m not being “lazy”, “ignorant”, or “stupid”, like I’m sorry but it’s not always obvious! I’ll say “but I’ve done everything/have nothing to do” then they’ll say “tHeRe’S aLwAyS sOMEthinG tO Do!” ??? Would you tell me please? *queue frustrated sigh & eye roll* = “No🙂 f yoü, figure it out” OR I will do something that *looks like* it needs doing just to gain brownie points “oh they’ll see the good job I did. “Oh no that didn’t need doing.” All that work for nothing, and THAT’S what I get for trying to take initiative. Lmaoooo so frustrating!

[@Silllywalks]

@@SquidFiction 🤣 I have learned, painfully, that the workplace doesn't make sense. Sometimes they don't even try to act like it makes sense. I guess we're supposed to just join in the fun but it never works...if you're not an ego driven sociopath of some kind at least, it's not gonna work out ...😆🤷

[@RocketRaccoonIzHot]

@@SteamboatWilley my last job was like that too. Always did overtime, always working as hard as i could, ect ect. Then the foreman just stopped giving me thing to do until they could say i "wasnt performing up to standard" and they let me go

[@perin99]

I worked nightshifts doing security for years and it was bliss. I got to be on my own for most of the time. It was quiet, predictable and I spent most of my shifts reading. Being blunt with people wasn't just tolerated, it was encouraged.

[@JonathanVachon777]

im a manager and i was thinking to do that for that reason

[@nooki1102]

Haha that was brilliant

[@Grant82gc]

Wow I'm 17 years into my security job and I have always put off getting a normal job because I love being able to walk like a zombie, think deeply about subjects and also listen to non-fiction audiobooks. I've got a job interview tomorrow for an operations role within my security company and the idea of having to fix my mind to something I'm not passionate about is stressing me out. Infact I'm supposed to be watching job interview KZbin videos right now but somehow I'm back to autism videos. I've only come to realise in the last few weeks that I'm on the spectrum and it explains so much about my life choices.

[@1337flite]

The hardest thing about this whole question for me is I can never ever feel safe and secure in a job. OK These days almost no one has a safe job . But my job is less safe. I never know when something I do will get me sacked. And that makes me hypervigilant and hyper stressed all the time.

[@camellia8625]

I totally get that as an autistic person myself. I am sorry you feel so on edge because of the precarious position you are in.

[@spankmcnasty2687]

I'm a bit the same in the sense that I always feel something I do will get me sacked. It's creates such anxiety when you never know weather you will still have your job at the end of the day, every day.

[@BoaConstrictor126]

Same here. Especially in an over sensitive and hyper politically correct environment where anything you say could offend someone and cost you your job when you already struggle with communication

[@musicmamma]

Same here

[@ChrisstineLynnn]

AMEN! Same here...

[@loonaalmasy]

Jupp, happened to me too. For years they just let me work my routine, even let me use earprotection because the machines were so loud. Apparently the did this only because my productionrate was 30% higher than that of anybody else. After I got officially diagnosed with ASD and ADD my shifts and routines suddenly started to change and my earprotection got forbidden. I started having regular meltdowns and thus got sickleave. They kicked me out after 9 1/2years "because you are sick so often". My doctor ratted them out to the authorities for that. They got fined to hell and back for it, since it was obvious that they messed with me on purpose 🤔

[@jamesfrench7299]

Glad the pieces of filth copped some form of consequence at least.

[@BabyGirl-cw6uj]

What the fuck is wrong with people?!

[@camellia8625]

That was despicable behaviour effectively bullying on their part. I am very sorry this happened to you and that your doctor reported them (assume that is what you meant by ratting out).

[@MrKillswitch88]

I am honestly not surprised given the kinds of personalities that "thrive" in such places where there is always someone on the bottom and the rest of the lot are two faced.

[@gzoechi]

Soothing to hear that justice gets his way at least occasionally. I hope you found something better.

[@KeenanDenis]

There's an international organisation that helps Autistic people get jobs. When I attended the branch in my country, I was told I "don't look Autistic" and was compared to the manager's son, who's Autistic. That manager is still in his job today. In an organisation that "supports Autistic people find work". Yes, that actually happened to me. In an organisation that supports Autistic people find work. Yes, really.

[@scalylayde8751]

I find this super believable, and based on your name I'm assuming you're a woman, or afab. Still a lot of sexism in autism diagnosis, unfortunately. People like us don't get diagnosed as often or are told we "don't seem autistic" because female socialization overlaps with autistic traits, and autism presents differently as a result.

[@ahmadag1820]

@@scalylayde8751 it is one of the few cases of "positive sexism"(whatever that means) where because autistic ladies go about handling NTs better than autistic men they are viewed as NT when they are not the prerequisite of being an NT is being stupid and impractical and the autistic lady would struggle to humiliate herself so.

[@keylanoslokj1806]

So where do we find jobs

[@camellia8625]

@@keylanoslokj1806self employment

[@equusequinox2617]

​@@scalylayde8751 u³9yt😅i7n

[@anniem2777]

Due to heavy masking all my life (I was diagnosed as a late teen and I’m female) I’m actually the the opposite of rude in the workplace. I’m so cautious of what I say that I’ve been called a pushover. I constantly receive criticism from employers and friends/family that I need to be more assertive.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Neuros are never happy unless you're exactly the same as them, the egotistical twerps.

[@SD-rm5ty]

Same.

[@savviechick4311]

I understand how you feel, I often get the same feedback. I seem to only be good at the extreme as in being very encouraging and polite and on the other end, I can go full coke bottle effect and become enraged (normally vented out or turn on myself). I find that Grammarly really helps me to see my own tone in emails it has little emojis of happy/sad faces, handshake etc... It is tough because in my mind we are all a team (work/friends/family) so why would anyone want to take advantage because I can't imagine doing that to anyone else.

[@camellia8625]

I can strongly emphasise

[@casebeth]

Yepp same here. Then I get home.and crash

[@Nate-BreakingPoint-Interactive]

I'm 27 and I've worked over 20 jobs in the last 8 years. Relatively recently I realized I'm autistic and can't imagine any of the jobs I've had responding well if I were to inform them of my struggles

[@turtleanton6539]

Faxx

[@cicadasrule]

Big same

[@mariannemealey4136]

I am 37 and I have had probably 40 jobs. Congrats for continuing to get back on the horse despite setbacks. I know from personal experience it is brutal.

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

You probably don’t remember but back in 2021 I emailed you asking advice on if I should disclose my (then) recent autism diagnosis to my employer. Because it was a public service position, you and I both thought that they should be more accomodating than the private sector might be and i ended up deciding to disclose. Not sure if it was them or me, but I always felt afterwards that they were treating me like I had intellectual impairment. I left of my own accord. 😢

[@orionkelly]

I do remember and I’m so disappointed to hear that.

[@kayjay-kreations]

I think the same qould have happened to me if I disclosed to management I left too

[@Linz0440]

This is the reason I don't disclose.

[@KeenanDenis]

That's awful, sorry to hear that. I too disclosed to 2 colleagues (public sector also). One of them said "you don't look Autistic" while telling me that her younger brother is Autistic and living in a disability unit, and I look nothing like him. I left after 14 weeks. People are awful - whether willful or ignorant, they're just awful.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Disgusting people. Deep on a primal level, they detest the idea of someone not being like them. Utter selfishness.

[@shaunhall6834]

We thrive when we are given respect for our differences.

[@Mamatruffle]

I started a job two months ago and got rave reviews from the beginning. Once I started hitting burnout and asked for a hybrid schedule earlier than we had agreed on using an ADA Accommodations Request, 5 days later I was "let go." It's frustrating. ND folks deserve to work and have a life too. I'm considering filing a legal complaint. Companies can't get away with this behavior.

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

Yes they can. Denial will destroy you

[@THERMALSCOPES13]

@@Mamatruffle they get around the law by claiming they fired you for “other reasons”, usually something made up. It sadly makes it hard to prove that you were fired exclusively because of your autism

[@MrNeptunebob]

I was a groundskeeper at a city zoo where one of the bosses was very loud to the point of being painful. I was told I was "doing a great job" and "the guests really like me" and then I was fired because the loud boss said I "was not a good fit". Its so confusing, I mean, they did not say I did a bad job. Worse yet, the Human Resources director was really nasty. I have found HR is often Rude and nasty.

[@jamesfrench7299]

They sound like real charmers. Absolutely disgusted at these stories.

[@caso6481]

HR works on the employer's behalf. It's better to be in a union iced workplace so thst there's someone on your side.

[@gzoechi]

HR is never the employees friend. Their sole purpose is to protect the company from legal ramifications. What I often find is, that people (often exceptionally incompetent) with a strong will to power, have an issue with autistic people, because they don't respond to the signals they use to indicate superiority. Most NT just receive and accept these signals like sheep. This is the only kind of people they can bear near them.

[@MrNeptunebob]

@@gzoechi Worse yet, unless you take college classes for business and find out what HR is actually for, this myth of HR being on the employees side is spread around so people who don't go to college go to HR if they have a problem thinking it might be solved.

[@JonathanVachon777]

@@MrNeptunebob HR are not protecting manager either. i have been there. they only protect the very high positions

[@anabelsanchez4605]

Employers only care about profit. And management is usually winging it themselves. Corporations just want people who do the most work for least pay. The great resignation is everyone’s reaction to being treated badly. I’m the US salaries have gone up and certain industries can’t find enough staff. Hope it changes but it’s looking grim.

[@SCdreamdrawer]

I can be so paranoid of revealing any overstimulation, pain, or sickness, out of fear I'll be fired for "not being cut out for work". Phrases like, "If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen." And of course, they will never say that you were fired for being autistic so they just get away with it.

[@joycewillemsen-romijn4846]

I am very open about my autism. It is a problem when trying to get a job, but i do not want to change in my honesty about my way of thinking. I am very intelligent and i know that i can be a real difference in the workplace. So it is their loss.

[@jamesfrench7299]

That's exactly what they're afraid of. They know you won't play along with their silly internal politics and will expose their subterfuge, whether intentionally or not.

[@joycewillemsen-romijn4846]

@@jamesfrench7299 I understand, but if i do not tell them, then i get in trouble. Because i am to direct and i always get in a discussion with the managers. I have the better ideas and most managers do not like that. If a company understand why, then i can tell them why i react, like i react.

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@joycewillemsen-romijn4846 It's like neurotypical people love mediocrity. That to me is a true disorder.

[@JonathanVachon777]

@@jamesfrench7299 exactly

[@KOSTNOT]

@@jamesfrench7299I’ve been saying this haha sometimes I’m like wait… WHAT?

[@pain.497]

As someone whose most likely autistic I got fired because I was "defiant" and too "slow" when in fact I was one of the hardest and most precise people on the job. The other workers noticed that I was rather quiet but nice and was hyperfocused on my work and did a good job. The boss was always being a douche bag towards me and even fussed me out cussing and everything. It pissed me off so bad I was getting intrusive thoughts but I didn't let it get to me. That experience scarred me and haven't been working since.

[@ediblecactus5703]

I wasn't defiant, but I can relate to being singled out. My boss would only talk bad about what I did, even though she would say I did good work on a daily basis prior to calling me out. They also were blatantly disrespectful about my education and knowledge about things. I have a formal degree, and they blatantly disrespected that saying I didn't know what I was talking about while saying that I said things that I never said. I have autism and I misspeak sometimes only to correct myself afterward, and they disrespected me because of that. They also said that because I communicate in a way that they didn't like such as how I express myself, they might of lost customers. Sorry, I can't help the way I was born. That being said I will never give them any business ever again. Nor will I ever talk to my prior rude employers. They also thought to tell me this after I worked as the sole employee in their store because another employee had covid and I was doing twice the work tasks. Of which, I was respectful about and completed all the assigned tasks in an orderly fashion as instructed.

[@rummagehill]

Oh they crack me up .... No I don't care to talk about football for an hour... Yep ... But they sure take advantage of aspe u can do 4 people's job ...

[@scalylayde8751]

I worked at a big coffee chain once, really fast paced, overstimulating environment. I was good at my job but I was task-focused. I had chats with my boss multiple times because people felt I was rude or had an unfriendly demeanor and I never understood why (even with my diagnosis) because, like, during peak rush times you just need to get stuff done... It's not that I don't like you it's that every second counts when we have 30 people waiting so just hand me the ding dang thing

[@mikafoxx2717]

This. I can relate. They somehow turned my part-time application into 60 hours a week though and I had to quit because of burnout. They tried to cling onto me like thorns because of how efficiently I worked, though.

[@harrietwindebank6051]

I was labelled challenging, awkward, difficult, quirky and a dilemma at work.

[@jaidenoliver7165]

Just some of the things I'm dealing with at work currently and are why I'm trying to find work somewhere else. "come on be a team person and come to lunch with us today that we decided on 20 minutes ago. Forget the lunch you packed and plans we want social time, don't you care about this opportunity we've given you?" "I see you're only half way through making this thing, but let me talk to you for an hour about what you should add and things to improve that I'm sure you're still working on but I need to feel important" "listen, I'm the same as you, quiet and don't like talking to people that much but it's just something we have to do and if you don't start asking more questions and participating more in things like lunch it seems like you don't want to stay here and we might have to let you go"

[@hufficag]

Lesson: neurotypical people love spontaneiety. That's why I got a motorcycle and I randomly invite them to lunch and dinner all the time. But they always refuse. I just get up and go find a restaurant when I get hungry. Why do they refuse? How to make them comply?

[@JonathanVachon777]

the worse part: why are you not talking? so you talk.. they are offended... Well thats why i didnt want to speak. happens all the time lol

[@jaidenoliver7165]

I'm currently dealing with these exact issues myself and looking for work somewhere else. It's made more difficult because I don't have a completely official diagnosis purely because I didn't want to do the final step with my therapist and pay like $2k to get the papers. I was basically told by my work that I have to start coming in every day, if I don't like it I can just leave. When I mentioned about needing at least 1-2 days a week at home for my mental health the response was essentially "we don't trust people to work from home anymore so you're welcome to just not be paid for those days". For over a year I have been working there largely remotely as I started in the height of Covid and remote work was going perfectly! But now "covid is gone" working at home is not even a potential option. I would like to stay but the strict attitude doesn't seem like it can change, and honestly after the last 2 weeks and issues I don't want to anymore. it's at the point going in daily that I can only work about 4 hours a day, with the other 4 being outside or in the bathroom trying to calm down and focus from the constant loud annoying music, people talking and coffee machine sounds I can't focus and just want to cry. I work the most out of anyone there because I don't spend 2 hours every day just talkking and standing around the coffee machine, but I'm in a situation of "if you don't start participating more it looks like you don't care and might have to be let go". In my mind I was doing my job and working brilliantly. These issues were only brought to me once it was already a problem and really too far to even be resolved.

[@renfairegoddess]

My former (as of yesterday!) Work had the nerve to deny my ADA accommodation to remain working from home. "That's not something we are currently offering". Only to turn around 2 days later and approve it after they actually spoke to my boss...the person who told me to ask for the accommodation. Damage done. Took them 6 months to eliminate my position.

[@chanyt2364]

Could you send this video link to your boss to explain. I feel it would make a huge difference in understanding and an 'aha moment'. Please don't give up on employment you are more than capable off due to lack of awareness or education on autism.

[@wirmuessenhierraus]

I feel ya. Hated the office and the noises and force of physical presence. Always had headphones on, shutting off and hiding. Covid saved my sanity...kinda. Still working from home. Don't want to go back ever. All the best for you.

[@hufficag]

Let's put together our brains and brainstorm ways to make those people chatting by the coffee machine look bad and feel bad, to counterbalance what is otherwise currently happening.

[@JonathanVachon777]

you are lucky to find someone that can diagnosize you, cant find any speciallist for adults

[@casebeth]

I've never once had HR be useful, kind, empathetic , or even minimally intelligent.

[@sp6450]

HR is there to protect the business, they are not there for you. Its to manage the human element of the business, to manage that part of its "resource". If you are high functioning autistic, you should be relatively fine for the most part at work and in daily life.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Tell me you don't know anything about HR without knowing anything about HR... @@sp6450

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@sp6450my word, you really are ignorant aren’t you?

[@karens8633]

⁠@@sp6450I’m “high functioning” until I try to work! 😢I just fall apart! My executive functioning is garbage if anyone is watching me do anything! I tried going through my States Rehab offices and they knew nothing about autism, and they were insisting that I lie on all my applications! They contradicted all the advice I received from my instructors in my Medical Coding course! Even the Dr who diagnosed me with Asperger’s didn’t seem to recognize that I was having a meltdown when I met with her and the rehab reps! 😬 I’m now receiving SSDI, because I just can’t handle trying to work. It just brings up all those traumatic memories and I start to hate myself.

[@originalvonster]

Thanks Orion. My potential neurodivergence is part of the reason why I didn’t go back to the workplace after having kids. I carried all the mistakes I made into the next job and had a professional mask in the workplace. But a lot of things at work stressed me out. I’ve had a few jobs where I thought I was being nice to someone else and then my manager made a quick meeting with me and said that I’d upset someone. That’s happened twice in my career and I was oblivious. I find that I just stopped talking unless absolutely necessary and that’s not a great way to live. Offices also have fluorescent lights which are horrible. I’ve also been demoted with a pay loss for not being the confident person the employer hired. I’ve had the experience about moving desks and hot desking before and the employers said that if anyone cannot deal with change then they need to leave and get another job now. Also team nights out were made compulsory at some places. I wish I had known about autism. I just thought I was shy. The odd thing is that the person who kept saying that I wasn’t the person he hired has an autistic son apparently so it’s surprising that he didn’t consider that as a possibility for me not being the same confident person he hired.

[@KeenanDenis]

You just told my story about workplaces, university, school, the pub and I feel my anger rising. I've had allegations of flirting and sexual harassment made against me (by women and men - I'm not gay). Like all of us, I've been devastated and confused after being ostracised, ignored, excluded, mocked, scolded for an unknown reason. I'm so sick and tired of making fresh starts but ending up back in the same place again and again and again. I'm here in this lifeboat with you, just clinging on. Know that you're not alone. x

[@originalvonster]

@@KeenanDenis Thank you, the thing is I thought I was alone and the only one going through these things before I found out about these types of communities. I’m sorry that you’ve had a similar experience to me. Hopefully communicating will go better for you in the future. I managed to learn from the second time I upset someone, but the first time I just realised that I can’t make conversation about appearance at all. The first time was where I complimented someone’s hair colour and asked what the colour was because I was genuinely curious and it was a shade of orange that I had not seen before. The person took offence because apparently their hair was naturally that colour and not dyed. I have never seen that hair colour on someone before so how was I supposed to know it was natural? It feels awkward enough making conversation and complimenting someone to only find out that I’m not doing it right. In fact that was probably the exact moment that my confident mask disappeared for that job. The other time was something that I learned from. I had recently started a new job and an existing employee wasn’t sure on something and I was confident on the answer, but the person didn’t believe me and then after they asked the manager and they got the answer I had said. I kinda said I told you so, but in a friendly way or so I thought. I quickly learned that people don’t like that I guess.

[@KeenanDenis]

@@originalvonster People can be weird. The "flirting" complaint was made by work colleague who hated me, the "sexual harassment" complaint was made by a woman who got upset that I didn't reciprocate her advances. I did nothing wrong in either situation. And we're not always wrong. Other people have issues - mental illness, addiction, narcissist, sociopath, psychopath, etc. We always blame ourselves when something goes wrong. But it's not always us.

[@originalvonster]

@@KeenanDenis I’m sorry to hear the details of your situation. I guess we both need to keep reminding ourselves that those were just a few negative interactions out of however many hundreds of positive interactions we have had in our lives. I’d also say that a lot of people have their problems and difficult seasons of their life, but that doesn’t make them bad people all the time, there’s usually a story behind the behaviour and it’s probably not even connected to you personally. Try not to waste a positive mood by replaying not so happier times (this is something I need to work so I’m not sure if it’s the same for you).

[@KeenanDenis]

@@originalvonster No, I'm not wasting a positive mood by replaying not so happier times. I'm just reaching out to say I've had similar experiences to you. That's all. I'll say good evening now. Enjoy whatever you're up to. Take care.

[@TheKjoy85]

Looking back to my when I was able to work, I can see how beneficial having an autism diagnosis might have been. My last job was in a major retail store and I worked in the Boys and Girls Clothing Departments. I would get in trouble for how long it took me to do certain tasks, such as fold and restacking clothes, for sitting on the floor while doing things on lower shelves, and for chatting with co-workers while working on something together. I am not OCD, but I was compelled to organize and properly stack the clothes I was folding especially table and wall displays. I have horrible balance so if I have to squat low for very long I am highly likely to wind up on my butt and kneeling hurt my knees, so I would just sit on the floor. Apparently that was considered unprofessional, not a health or safety hazard, but unprofessional. I am semi-mute, I talk less now than I did back then, but we knew how to talk about stuff and still get our task done. When I would get overwhelmed by auditory over stimulation, I would go do some work in our back room storage space and then I would go back out onto the sales floor. I would on rare occasions hide in our rolling racks of hanging clothes for 10 minutes to calm myself down. I couldn't explain what was going on or ask for reasonable accommodations because I didn't understand myself and had no diagnosis to base those changes on.

[@janejones5362]

In my last job, I used to hide in the bathroom for 5 minutes.

[@devincorrington349]

I disclosed to my work that I am autistic and they ended up firing me the three days later. They came to me the day before and told me I needed to leave early because they were low on hours due to having so many people working overtime that week to meet quotas. They fired me the next day for leaving early. I tried to take legal action but was told I had no case. I ended up developing a panic disorder. It was like something snapped in my brain because It felt like I did everything right but still ended up punished and this just broke me. This was also after suffering multiple traumas in the past 6 years, including my little brother being murdered, my best friend dying in a car accident, my service animal dying, being involved in a car accident, and having my house broken into. All while also having ptsd from my deployment to Afghanistan (I didn't get diagnosed till I was 29 and I joined when I was 19). My mental state has never been the same. I have regular panic attacks daily, severe bipolar depression, and can't seem to mask anymore. Most of my friends stopped hanging out with me due to me "being too much". I don't know what to do anymore. I can't work anymore due to my mental state and it kills me. I'm completely miserable. I've fought off thoughts of suicide since and I just don't know how much longer I can go on. I just want to be myself again.

[@amys0482]

Sue

[@ArnavKhode]

Im on the spectrum too, and ive been through trauma due to bullying from my peers, and when I was 16, I lost a good friend, and my grandma at 19 which deeply affected me. Im really sorry to hear this, and stay strong.

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

​@@amys0482Read

[@davekendall9749]

I feel your pain sounds like something I would be writing try to keep stronge for all of us, if not I will see you on the other side. :-)

[@makeshiftmasquerade]

I was fired because I couldn’t hide the fact I had another interview set up and had a “bad attitude” in accordance with my body language some how. My vocational rehab job coach who was supposed to advocate for me ultimately got me let go and said it was a “learning experience”. Then she told me I need therapy because I keep not being able to hold a job due to my “instability”. I’ve only had 3 “real jobs” and I graduated college two years ago. It’s been months and they still haven’t gotten my plan amended to get the therapist… Now I’m so unmotivated to maintain communication with them and I am looking for work on my own with my employment plan totally paused. I’m sorry, but… Who’s “going in circles” again?

[@texasmurphy7088]

I've just been diagnosed. I'm 45 years old, and I've been targeted at nearly every job I've held as an adult - including as a paramedic. I have no idea how I did that job for a decade and a half. Much of the time I'm being targeted for being LGBTQ+, but my autistic traits (what I now recognize, anyway) have always exacerbated the problem. So I get targeted, and I get overstimulated because of it, then I start getting irritable and having meltdowns with increasing frequency until I just can't take it anymore and I bite someone's head off. Every time, I go to HR, and every time I end up being the only person who's disciplined. No company (to include AMR, who allowed entire fire departments to target me) ever responded well to me being targeted. Now that I know what's been going on all this time, it's a slight relief...but it's also really painful. I don't want anyone at my current job to know but I don't have a choice. I'll have to disclose my diagnosis if I want to get the adjustments I need.

[@KeenanDenis]

Another reason I was reluctant to disclose was a fear that I would be asked about "accommodations" I needed. And I have no clue what adjustments I need. Some folks have it all figured out and know themselves pretty well. I have absolutely no idea about where "the Autism" starts and where my natural personality and temperament end. No clue, mate. It's great having laws obliging employers to accommodate us - it's an entirely different matter disclosing our Disability on application forms (they won't give us jobs anyway and don't want to accommodate us). It's a vicious circle.

[@Punisher1830]

It's better to mention autism after getting hired not before, hopefully they put it on paper or in the system, so they don't come back with "well you didnt tell us that." Or "it wasnt in our records." Preferably put it in writing or digital email, so they don't say "he didnt tell us". If its on email, records show you did inform them. Or if you text them, "it couldve been a spoofed phone number text message" They are gonna try to side swipe to avoid accountablity. It's frustrating they try to a play legal game to avoid accountability.

[@Bicyclechris]

It’s also important to realize that narcissists and sometimes psychopaths are in leadership positions in many organizations. Reporting can be a toss-up, in some occasions they can simply manage you out if they don’t like you, or find it too much to bother to accommodate your requests. I’ve made requests for years, and gave feedback on open workspaces, loud environments, harsh lighting, most were simply ignored. Just like the vaccine mandate that is still in effect for the office. At this point, I’m done trying to mask and fit in, and need to start my own business and leave the workforce.

[@mythandmagic08]

Over a decade ago, I was in nursing school--a four year program--and near the end of the second year, I failed the practicum (the semester where students are out in the field with patients). Teachers told me, "I don't think you should pass, but I can't put my finger on why", "You have tunnel vision", and, "I decided to go help [another student] instead because she's actually going to pass." I did extremely well in the other courses, but out with instructors and nurses in the hospital, they would constantly glare at me, complain about how I was "painfully shy", and not focus much at all on my actual knowledge or skills. I did really well with the patients and they constantly told me they were glad about how calm I was and that I would actually listen to them and ensure their needs were met. But in meetings with other nurses, I was relatively quiet and didn't gossip with them or say more than what was required (reporting on patient statuses, etc). I always felt out of place. There were a couple of other shy nurses--both male--who would sort of cower in the corner during meetings because the rest of the nurses were so overbearing. At the end of the semester, the instructor was very cruel in telling me I had failed. She failed me in all four sections (one of which was Ethics. I can't remember what the others were). I remember asking her, "How could I fail in Ethics? I always do what's right for the patients." Her response was, "The sections are all connected. If you fail one, you fail them all." The student instructor who was shadowing her that semester sat me down afterwards and was very kind to me, telling me Nursing may not be the right career for me, but there were many more medical professions that would be more behind the scenes. I hope that student instructor never becomes as cruel as the rest of them. She made me cry that day as she was the kindest person I encountered during that whole ordeal. I decided not to try again the next year and just find a career where I wasn't constantly bulled. The college offered me a chance to challenge the decision to fail me as they thought it was unfair too, but I was so exhausted and frustrated I didn't want anything else to do with any of it. Apparently, because of myself and at least one other shy student, the college started requiring interviews before they would accept students--a new way to weed out the "wallflowers". I know for a fact they wouldn't have accepted me in the first place if I'd had to get past an interview phase. Now I'm a self-diagnosed autistic, and that explains a lot of the struggles I had.

[@kayjay-kreations]

I fired myself , once I realized they don't accommodate, I now take care of my mother.

[@CraftyVegan]

I’m working on getting certified to care for my autistic toddler **because** I’m “unemployable”. The state wants me to pay close to $400 for my own classes, including a background check and CPR/first aid though, so that’s been a bit of a road block. They also only let you take one month to get everything together, which means I have to have these classes lined up before I even apply, and there’s no proper list of what additional classes I even need to take at the health department.. the listing just says “and additional classes that can be taken at [x, y, and z locations including the health department] for a nominal fee”

[@haroldgifford852]

@@CraftyVegan 💐

[@hufficag]

I was teaching physics to Chinese students having them answer questions, get involved, repeat sentences, giving them vocabulary. My class was suddenly taken over by another teacher because I was going too slow. Now I'm teaching algebra and that teacher is telling me I'm going too fast, I should spend more time talking, getting the students engaged. But of course I'm going fast, I'm scared I'll lose my job if I go slow!

[@andrewortiz5797]

The other teacher is jealous of you

[@ghostofmybrain]

I hate that idea of "professionalism". I've been punished so many times for being "unprofessional" and i have no idea why.

[@JD96893]

I feel my problem is being taken advantage of in the work place because i too easily trust people. I remember this one job, i spent a couple weeks seeing how they worked, then the first day of work i made a change with my also new co-worker, but i didn't mention it to anyone. Next day i find he didn't do what he said he was going to, i get blamed and then fired. I'm almost sure he wanted to get rid of me to have more work for himself. Another thing that often happens is i get asked to do something by one person and then get reprimanded by another for doing that thing im not supposed to be doing. Last job(teaching job, my current profession) i got fired for being "problematic" and because i didn't meet their unrealistic standards and yet i also was the most qualified to do the job lol. I was labeled "problematic" because they kept changing things last minute or would give me incorrect information or expected me to just blindly teach a class and i couldn't stand it. The best job i ever had was a care free construction job where i was just told to do something, given what i needed to do it, and was left to my own devices. I feel like most people on the spectrum probably are self employed. Working for a business can be tough for nuerodivergent people, even harder getting a job as one! Yet the nuerodivergent workforce is very valuable, we can be obsessive, super focused, detail oriented, and perfectionist.

[@caso6481]

These adjustments can help almost everyone. No one is up for surprises all the time. And honesty is, well, honest. Employees should always be told if information is confidential. And honest feedback is always valuable.

[@joejanota707]

This is a tough one for me. I don't want to be treated differently. I know I'm more than capable of doing the job just as well if not better than most. I don't think I'll tell people. There are risk factors, such as I could wake up that morning and decide to do somthing, no one can stop me in that scenario. Lucky for me it meant stripping machines down and cleaning them, building a smoking shelter, barrak stripping a room in particular (Weirldly it intails a lot of cleaning or building, manual labour) Hyper focus is a wonderful thing. This also means I might just not turn up one day. That is a huge issue. I've gotten good at recoknising the signs but even though I can tell when it might happen, I can't stop it from happening. It has to be done. I have to do it. I have to do it now. In one sitting, stint or attempt. Otherwise It won't get done. I need to get it done. I think I'm just scared I'll be taken advantage of again. I don't want to be a slave again. How do I get help with that? I can say no but I can't always be there in the moment. I just do as I'm told.

[@RoundPi]

From my experience, "being professional" can also mean "being less clear", which is very counterintuitive.

[@1337flite]

Yes. Not directly - just the first to go even though I'm the most experienced and generally the most skilled at my job. I didn't know that I was autistic and the "incidents" were meltdowns. I'm actually on the edge of this happening again - an "aggressive demeanour" on a zoom call (I think I was probably pulling my hair - stimming - but they won't actually tell me what the actual issue is) and raising my voice. I've just told them that I think I am autistic and I am seeking a diagnosis - it takes 12-18 months here according to the state autism body's info line. I had been very wary of mentioning this, but I figure right now, I'm on the edge of getting sacked anyway - may as well let them know what the actual issue is. Now why do employers pick me in the first place because I can mask well enough about 90% of the time to get through an interview and abput 99% of the time I'm the most qualified , most higghly skilled an most highly experienced person for the job. I'm the guy they call in when there is a job that needs thinking or is hard to solve. It's weird. But the same hyper rational and logical brain that can solve the diffucult issues that other people can't solve, can't take the logically inconsistent bullshit in the corporate world.

[@BabyGirl-cw6uj]

The corporate world wasn't built with us in mind🫤.

[@FailcopterWes]

Staff education has been an awkward one to put into practice for me recently. When I got my workplace adjustments, my manager and I decided to let me explain to the team why these changes have happened and how it helps me. Admittedly, it was not the best presentation I could have given, it was very rushed and stuck on the end of a meeting nobody wanted to be in anyway, which is probably partly why some of the people who sat in on that have blatantly ignored it for what they think are justified reasons. The really annoying part, however, is that I was also supposed to give a similar talk to the other managers, in case they need me for anything or need to send someone over then they might want to make someone aware it's better to message first, or not be offended if I'm wearing a headset and not looking at them. However, in the tried and tested trend of management everywhere, that has been continually delayed and put off to the point where I have ended up having to do it individually with some of them because they ended up noticing the changes. That said, the people who I have done individual talks with (or individual messages in the case of those not present for the team meeting) have responded a lot better to it. There's one person who works about a meter away from me, but consistently sends a message first when needing something so I have a chance to disengage from what I'm doing and I really appreciate it. In general, however, people have tended to take things like the headset, sitting somewhere else and sign as either meaning to not involve me at all, forgetting about me entirely, or just disregarding it. I have tried to explain to them on why it's a problem, but some people seem to just find it hard to understand however I explain it.

[@Stormbrise]

This is a great video! We are loved because our ability to hyperfocus, but then in reviews we are torn apart for our lacking social skills. I worked in freaking sales for 4 years, and meltdowns toward the end were every other day at work. I gave the two notice and I was happy that the door hit me in my ass on my way out, because it was so toxic to work at this place. However, I was told that I was welcome to come back and work there at any time. I was saying NEVER! In my mind the whole time, while being polite to the head of HR.

[@10ison]

I appreciate the underlying rage in your voice, thats exactly how I sound when I'm talking about things that are important.

[@niccilefevre]

This is exactly why I left regular jobs and started doing instacart. It also sucks in a lot of ways but none of it is as hard on me as the forced hours and interactions I had to deal with in "regular" jobs. I was always faster and better (more focused on details and getting it perfect) than most of the typical workers, but because I was "difficult" sometimes Id be ostracized and talked about behind my back. I still see the forced hours work as a weird thing, I had jobs where there was nothing to do but they wouldnt send you home till the end of the shift so I had to find work like sweeping the backrooms etc (a lot of ppl would hide in bathrooms etc but I cants stand not having something to do)....Like they just want to take hours from your life for no reason. If I can get that work done that you say takes 8 hrs in 4 then why do I have to stay and do double the work for the same pay? Also just in general the whole focus on "attendance", and the predilection to bully and ostracize people who takes days off is, I cant even think of the word....ableist? Idiotic? Unnecessary? Theres sooo many times Ive witnessed my coworkers shit talking people behind their backs for simply taking one of the few days allotted to them. I suspect they partially get angry because there's not enough ppl to do the work, but imo thats when you get angry at the bosses who continue to understaff for budget reasons and pit the workers against eachother....but hey thats just my perspective....

[@niccilefevre]

Also speaking on your last point: Ive had that same sort of idea for a while to have neurodivergent ppl be speakers at schools, offices etc. Just as a way to educate ppl about it. I get so exhausted trying to educate ppl one at a time, I long for the days where theres more public knowledge around us. I watched this tiktok of a teacher that was educating little kids on it, doing a great job of teaching them its a difference but doesn't make us lesser, lol made me tear up.

[@RexTenomous]

I think "toxic" is the word that I would go for, personally.

[@marionnieder1655]

I'm starting to understand things. And it makes me feel better to see loosing my jobs constantly wasn't always my fault.

[@peachylexy]

I don't have an autism diagnosis, but I am neurodivergent and the issues I continue to face in the workplace are mainly due to my problems with processing time and executive function. Because it often takes me much longer to complete tasks, my bosses often will have a conversation with me about this, and I have even been bullied into quitting for this reason as well as other issues that can be attributed to my learning disability. I've had 4 jobs within just the past year and just can't seem to work anywhere without feeling burnt out and eventually quitting because of all the extra effort I have to put into everything to try and keep up with everyone else.

[@limabravo0001]

Being high functioning autistic. I've learned to sort out my strengths and weaknesses. I'm very complex as I'm also an ENTJ personality, combined with being a sigma empath. I'm also a veteran. I've honed my "super powers" to guide me and help others. I worked at the local main hospital during the pandemic. Management/supervisors were prone to misinterpreting my actions and words. I then inverted and kept to myself and spoke only when spoken to, do did my job, etc. They tried to discipline me after they misunderstood a certain situation that actually had nothing to do with me. I had enough. I sat in the meeting with HR and a supervisor as they went through blah blah blah. I finally rolled out my background. I told them I have a degree in business, psychology, sociology, and I have extensive military training in leadership. I told them they don't know what they are doing and they shouldn't be doing this line or work. I also told them that I am a high functioning autistic and it's very easy for others to misunderstand or misinterpret my actions. This situation has nothing to do with anything. I told them to get educated on how to speak to autistic staff, and they refused. Instead they insisted that I get a doctor's note and therapy. I told them they were the ones who needed therapy and that I'm completely fine and in fact my autism gives me abilities that are superior to theirs. I devised an exit strategy. I took sick leave due to working in a hostile and toxic environment, I maxed out the employee insurance, all health benefits, and when it all expired after almost two years I dropped the human rights complaint on them. Mission accomplished. I got big bucks, saved all my cash and bought my own business. I was extremely careful that any correspondence or meetings with them that I politely CC'd myself the contents of our meetings and discussions, and who attended, etc. I also kept notes. I had an electronic record of who I spoke to, what was said, dates and times. Don't fxck with high intelligence quotient high functioning autistic persons. This is a big mistake.

[@humbleweirdo2860]

I work in retail and am on the verge of throwing it all in. I understand the financial repercussions but I just can't stand the people I work with. The customers are loud, obnoxious and annoying. My boss is condescending and doesnt listen to me and just dumps extra shifts 3 hours before I finish and guilt trips me if I don't accept. I just feel I don't belong, like a fish out of water, but I realise if I go back to my anchorite lifestyle I'll lose my mind. Its hard not to idealise ending it when everything in the world is against you.

[@Pabliski577]

Sounds like you're surrounded by children... Please don't end it all because of some children... Get a new job if this one's wasting you. You're a male with something that allows you to outclass others, make life your little bitch.

[@Autism_Forever]

We are Autistic family and we are self employed. We rent our offices. Landlord subjected us to disability abuse, then tore off the wall sign I made to protest disability abuse (I was born non verbal, have unstable speech that I cannot rely on, and communicate via written signs), scolded me for putting it up there (needless to say as harmful as duct taping mouth of a NT person), told me that there is inclusivity in the building and I should shut up and stop complaining. Then told us that if his offices are not good enough for us we should get out. I am preparing lawsuit against the landlord. I will be assessing punitive damages and requesting jury trial. I will make sure that at least 50% of jurors are ND people with sensory sensitivities. I will rather see landlord broke and jobless than let it happen to me and my family. Never let neurotypical putz push me around and sure not gonna start now in my 50s. Stand up for yourselves. You have rights. Use them. Yes I will be filing the lawsuit by my dyslexic self. Multiple attorneys I contacted were completely worthless and refused to represent us. Today I made ADA request to Superior Court in which I asked them to send me plain English copy of civil procedure rules, accessible to people with cognitive, intellectual, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Despite having been diagnosed as an imbecile when I was born (I have Class 3 ASD) I have managed to kick asses of so called smart people. From my experience I can tell you - we Autistics are very capable people. Do not let neurotypicals push you around. Rise and stand your ground.

[@__Steph]

I got told by my manager that other managers wanted to mark me down on review as I ‘didn’t come across right’. But when questioned they couldn’t give examples. Lucky my manager fought my case as all he cares about is if you’re good at your job but most are not like this unfortunately.

[@Dontstopbelievingman]

The lack of tangible reasons is so frustrating. Like getting a poor performance review when you've met everything on the list they gave you. Or because of something you couldn't control.

[@susansaunders249]

I was fired once for being in my “own little world.” I responded with, “Well, whose world would you expect me to be in?!” Mostly, though, after a few days, weeks, or months, I hit a wall and shut down to the point where I wouldn’t be welcomed back even if I wanted to, which I usually don’t. I’m struggling with that right now. I’m actually listening to this as I sit in my office’s parking lot and attempt to ready myself to walk through the door and stay for my whole shift. Thank you!

[@nancyz3755]

im 67yoa. recently beginning to understand why i am like i am. ive always known i was different. had problems at early age. thank you for teaching me.its such a relief. yet, a challenge. at least i can recognize the possibility. i was fired once from a job "You are not who i thought you were when i interviewed you' ~~

[@Dontstopbelievingman]

I am so sick of being told that the way I've successfully done my job for over 15 years is wrong and doesn't work, because NT idiot bosses think their way is the only way. I'm tired of being forced to do things their way because the way I excel is not something they can personally do, so they don't believe I can (like work from home without getting distracted). I'm tired of work being exhausting and demoralising and depressing, not because of the work itself, but because of the way I'm expected to do it. I'm tired of the fakeness and hypocrisy of HR. It shouldn't be this hard. I'm tired of being made to feel incompetent because I'm being asked to walk a mile instead of fly, because they have powerful legs and I'm more adept at flying. I'm so tired of the rules not being the rules. I understand how things work but I hate it and refuse to participate.

[@MrAtheistQueen]

I literally just sent an email to my employer at the end of my shift YESTERDAY, asking for some of these!!! Orion speaks the truth!!!

[@CraftyVegan]

My solution is to become a paid carer for my autistic toddler. It allows me to work how I need to and also not get fired if I need to take a minute. And I also get to do hands on care for my LO to keep the ABA and Autism Sp**ks fiends away from my kid 🤨 The only problem right now is that because I’m going to be an “independent contractor” I have to pay for my own background check, first aid/CPR classes, and a couple other small classes. The total comes to right at $400 usd 😅

[@KeenanDenis]

Agreed re ABA ("conversion therapy") and Autism Sp**ks. That sucks re $400, hopefully it will all work out for you.

[@whitneymason406]

Last time I worked I wasn't diagnosed and now I'm a stay at home mom. Once both my kids are in school I'd like to get a part time job and I often wonder if I'll disclose or not. Great video Orion, take care! 💞

[@KeenanDenis]

Best of luck to you on your journey, whatever you decide and whatever happens.

[@SD-rm5ty]

For me I was working at a law firm as an intake specialist/receptionist and I didn't realize the unspoken rule of being in that position and being harassed and there being expectations with that, I thought initially I was looking too much into their nonverbal communication until it became overt and I disclosed I suspected I was on the spectrum ( few months later formally diagnosed) and I was fired for reporting the harassment but then I won a wrongful termination suit against them ( You cannot fire an employee for protected activities ex. going to HR for sexual harassment in case this helps anyone) quickly after that I learned I do not mix well with narcissist and sociopaths and I will never work for a law firm again, but now I work for a fortune 500 insurance company which has been surprisingly very accommodating although I was working full time and recently went down to part time due to burnout that I can't seem to shake but hopefully soon I can go back to full time, but I now deal with my manager/ some coworkers treating me like I'm intellectually disabled even though Im clearly not otherwise I wouldn't have been hired and the company I work for only hires top 10 percent of applicants according to them. ***sigh*** 😒😒😒

[@cyber_villager]

Hey I want to thank you a lot. for real. It has been about 6 months since I started my diagnosis process and your videos helped me a TON. Now I am diagnosed and joined the neurodiversity employee resource group of my company. You content helps me to find ways to push for improvements inside the company and is super inspiring and helpful! Thanks a lot you helped me in my ongoing journey of selfdiscovery and acceptance. Now I am able to spread it and help others! much love to you and this comunity ^- ^

[@kayjay-kreations]

I want to say this is your best video yet! I wished I'd seen it 6 months ago when I was diagnosed and employed but I am sure the best is yet to come still :) great work my friend.

[@Jas-zzz]

OMG😳😳😳😳! That is such a great my autistic brother!❤❤❤ Having those kinds of tests or training that includes dealing with people, whether fellow work mates or customers or whatever😭😭😭. Can you imagine awareness continuing to spread?! Like disclosing to someone tour close to and them having more of an idea because they have been working with an autistic work mate!💗💗💗

[@DetraDearmas]

My son who has autism and masks very well was given a new employee to train and supervise. This was done because he had 2 autistic sons. The thought was that this man who had lost his parents as a teenager and stepped up to care for his siblings for many years would do well with Chad as his supervisor. He did in fact turn out to be a loyal, diligent employee. Chad on the other hand had another person that clung to him for survival for a while, autism helping autism. Each job was different and at a different location, yet this man,many years my son’s senior; adapted,focused,and had a great work ethic. The stress this man was under was unreal yet he did great. He was under so much stress that by the end of the day ,one time, when back at the office, our 2 young autistic boys ran up to him very excited to meet him outside in a small private parking lot. Directly after everyone thought he was gone, he came back inside to say the kids wouldn’t let him leave ” What do I do” he asked. Now that’s over load! By the end of each day he was so overloaded it was unbelievable the dedication he had to keep this job! Autistic people are worth the effort. I made assistant manager under the owner of my very first job who described me as weird but gifted. Was the job worth it? I’ve run businesses most of my life I just need an up front guy to handle the customers. My son now runs his own business and autistic employees have always been ok with us! In fact his oldest son now 13 will tell you quick “I’m gonna work with Dad!”

[@DLT111]

I remember being fired "for tone" and the worst part? There was another person there with autism as well, but because he was a guy, it wasn't so bad about his behavior, but my behavior, my tone, as a woman, made it unacceptable.

[@dominiquedoeslife]

I have a loved one who is autistic who’s been fired multiple times. He’s worried about disclosing his disability status after being hired (U.S.), but at this point, it seems as if his disability status not being shared could be part of the reason folks continue to get away with firing him. It’s a personal decision to be sure, but personally, I always share my neurodivergent status after being hired for a job. It has really helped me. In fact, several c suite execs at the company I currently work with are also neurodivergent, including ASD, ADHD, and AuDHD.

[@HeadofSails]

You have just saved me about 5yrs of worth of trauma therapy to the tune of hundreds of pounds ❤ thank you for existing and conveying us so well xx

[@MrKillswitch88]

Unfortunately this is still very common in the US especially with the smaller to mid sized businesses while for mega corps it really isn't much better as there are always an endless list of reasons for anyone to be let go these days. I once got fired for getting the flu a few days before Christmas no less.

[@madamenordica]

Thank you for this! The last job I had was in a call center environment with a completely OPEN work area - so very noisy with constant distractions. I thought I was losing my f'g mind!

[@cfaithp]

This is so relatable! I have been gaslit and punished so many times for just being honest and transparent.

[@michelebriere9569]

Here in the US, we have 3 states that are, what we call, "right to work" states. That means unions are frowned on, and employers can fire you for no reason. Arizona, where I am, is one of those states.

[@cosette999]

I think Minnesota might be another.

[@escapenguin]

Toxic workplaces found my bluntness humorous or endearing. In more *normal* workplaces, I was treated like some kind of alien. I'm glad I'm good at masking now but it's exhausting.

[@camellia8625]

This was an incredibly helpful video - I wasn’t aware I was autistic when I attempted to work (managed for a couple of years including working several hours extra a day unpaid to ensure nobody could fault any aspect of my work before burning out and no longer prepared to put myself under such pressure). I hope one day to try again with a better suited role and the correct help in place. It is considerably more challenging when you have comorbid specific learning impairments such as dyspraxia and executive function difficulties.

[@jarradhurley4866]

I love this take on "professionalism". It's one of those needlessly stuffy words and concepts that mean I have to make myself uncomfortable for appearances. I can't think of a single workplace where I've been "professional". I've always had to have some sort of relaxed stance to the work because I find the concept of work more stressful than other people do. I've never really had a workplace account for my condition, either, even when they've known. The stance is always, "you're autistic. great. you will do what everyone else does or you will leave." Oh, I've had nice managers. I've kept some jobs longer than I should have due to a bit of pity. But when push comes to shove, very little effort to understand my needs has been made by most. It's very easy for an autistic person to disengage with a job. And it always happens if a workplace cannot accept that I need to do things a little bit differently.

[@powerdove]

Thanks for this video. I've just started a new job alongside an autistic colleague and I'm hopeful we can navigate things collaboratively!

[@DorifutoRabbit]

Your point about training businesses about neurodivergent people by neurodivergent people is a good one, I will have to suggest this at my work. Thank you Orion

[@sjatkins]

Yeah, I once just told an HR person I was "on the spectrum" and you could see the window of her thinking it could work out slam shut. Oh yeah, open offices are a level of Hell. Finally got to where I could just hyper-focus and shut out all of it. But then I was dinged for not being responsive and nice to be around. GRRR.

[@huhuhuh525]

If you look closely and think about it What makes autistic employee feels difficult is all those unplanned, impromptu meetings/ tasks, which if mangers have good managing skills can often be mitigated. And that actually benefits everyone. A lot of the times managers aren't trained to be mangers so they don't understand that. I think being autistic actually make one understand how to probably manage things (as we do it with all of our daily tasks) we actually can make really good managers

[@watcherowl5387]

ADHD and been fired so many times I lost count. I have simply given up trying to win an unbeatable game in a world not built for us and even outright hostile.

[@ArikaStack]

I would 100% be that person that goes to workplaces and educates people about autism.

[@kingmasterlord]

ive had like 15 jobs. most last less than three months: the length of most temp agency contracts. also spent 10 years homeless. all prediagnosis. i always say all i need is my 5 T's: 1 Task you want done 2 Timeframe you want it done in 3 Tools to do it with 4 Training to use those tools 5 Trust to leave me alone to do my job they usually laugh in my face.

[@bobmartin6055]

This needs to be shouted from the rooftops!! Thanks so much for speaking up about this issue!!!

[@gzoechi]

I could deal with most issues on workplaces, but not with bullying by superiors and that happened basically in every job in my career. Either they think I'm a threat to them because I usually deliver better work than most or they try to exploit me because they think I'm naive (for example to sell my work as their own - which would be something I could even live with if they weren't so hostile at the same time)

[@Tennesseemomtho]

I gave my 2 weeks notice on Monday after 90 days at a company that works in the mental health field. I have a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology. I'm also on the spectrum. I'm resisting the urge to send this video to my manager. Awesome job at explaining this issue. It's very frustrating to me that not even the Mental Health Care field understands autism and adhd.

[@fluffycloud3529]

This was way too relatable, gosh. Thank you for sharing, I am going to get back into working soon and this is very useful to me

[@DavidJVMusic]

ya, I'm an independent contractor now.

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

Hate Char. Perfect. Thank you for hitting all these valid and important points. I really appreciate it. I was having meltdowns in the office, with NO IDEA that I was Autistic. Horrible.

[@apache-yaquibrown4060]

My work ethic has always been praised. My clinical skills always praised. I was the nurse they called when the load was heavy and lives in danger. But my social skills interaction with the boss was always kept to a minimum. But being akward with my social skills, some power hungry boss ass kisser would come through to show power over me and make up stories. I have been accused of horrendous things. All I did was my work and want to go home.

[@BabyGirl-cw6uj]

I think dealing with the unwarranted jealousy for an ironclad work ethic that actually benefits everyone else is just the worst in the workplace. People want to be you but are not ready or are physically incapable of putting in the necessary work, so they resort to underhanded tactics🫤.

[@Maverick.D.]

Same thing happened to me in my last job.

[@apache-yaquibrown4060]

@@Maverick.D. I hope you bounce back back quickly, I was assaulted on my way out injured, requiring surgery, went bankrupt, loss everything financially, and thrn mu body shut down. I am lucky I didn't die.

[@apache-yaquibrown4060]

@@Maverick.D. I hope you bounce back back quickly, I was assaulted on my way out injured, requiring surgery, went bankrupt, loss everything financially, and thrn mu body shut down. I am lucky I didn't die.

[@jameslewis2635]

I think I was probably fired for being autistic several times, but at the time I was not diagnosed or aware of the condition myself. In my last job, when I was diagnosed, I tried to disclose that I had the condition but there was a problem with that. I was employed through an agency who was staffed mainly by foreign workers who didn't know how to speak much english, let alone know anything about dealing with someone who is autistic. The only response I got from them was 'so do you want to resign?' which pretty much points out how much help I got from that company. A bit later had a period of burn-out which ended up with me walking out of the job - and good riddence. Never take a job working through an agency people!

[@LaylaTow]

For me biggest struggle is not passing interview. Even if it’s for remote job where we probably will never „see” each other again I feel like I’m being rejected because I give „off vibe”. And it’s not my imagination or that I’m not qualified because I tested it myself. I’m working as a different person for the second time in my life and it’s been going for years. I do everything as that person I do work as that person I communicate (in writing) as that person. And I’m the best employee ever holding this job for years but no I would never get it as myself. 😂 I’m earning 60% of that person salary. it’s just ridiculous. I feel doomed to always be in that void and never get a good job by myself

[@json8172]

Just got fired for having outbursts. the struggle is real.

[@thecodemachine]

I didn't ask for anything at work, but to have someone stop harassing me. They wanted to fire me for asking to not be harassed.

[@db21362]

I had to LOL at the section on professionalism. I almost literally said the same things you did, not just to the HR, but to the HR lawyer who defended me. Apparently "it's really clear" what "professionalism" is, when the policy literally says it is "unprofessional to act in a way that is not professional"! Huh? What? Well, that's enlightening! Loved this and all your videos - you say things so much better and clearer than I ever could.

[@ellaboobella8770]

I’m am very recent and very late diagnosed and realize that I was fired for autistic traits, most specifically taking things literally. I had a stress fracture in my foot that made it to where I couldn’t get my foot in my shoe, and it rapidly swelled at work. I couldn’t walk and was in pain and so told my manager that I needed to leave and showed him why. The following day I was told that if I couldn’t come in that my termination papers would be filled out and that my other boss was likely filling them out right then. He said he couldn’t use me at either store. I was confused but accepted that I was fired. My feelings were hurt because I was a good employee and never even took a sick day and would stay late or come in early if needed. I had worked there for about 8 months, so I applied for unemployment until I could find another job. I was denied unemployment because they said I “Abandoned” my position and just didn’t show up. I challenged the denial and had a hearing over the phone to determine if I was eligible or not. My one boss said “I didn’t say you were fired, I said the termination papers were likely being filled out as we speak.” I took him literally. Why wouldn’t I? It sounded straight forward to me.

[@Klake-bk2dp]

If it ain’t on paper, it ain’t happen!!! This is definitely a game they played, they were most likely afraid that you hurt yourself at work. Having someone quiet, abandon their job is so MUCH better for them.

[@Spooschy]

Commenting for the algorithm because more people need to see this... I'm Autistic and I pushed myself to the point of autistic burnout and nearly death. 5 years of burnout and counting... I worked for 10 months (for the first time ever) and every single one of these days was TRUMATIC. Also I wasn't diagnosed at the time.

[@jwmmitch]

Thank you! One thing I've learned in my late diagnosis is that by being accepting of us that are very different from NT expectations, is that there's a ton of neurological variance that gets included between NT and "high functioning" ASD

[@alib1255]

Currently dealing with being pushed out, gaslit and bullied.

[@MrColinwil]

My life in industry was helped by the fact that I was put on a late shift but running 2 shifts and a laboratory, to cut down on my social interaction with the normal people, bonus for me was a lot of back shift people are broken to so we all got along.

[@thestrugglingoptimist2541]

I wish getting accommodations was easier for people with invisible disabilities, like myself. At the company I work for, you are supposed to submit several forms through HR to even be considered for an accommodation. One of those forms must be filled out by your doctor. You also must have a diagnosis. I started working at one location and was told that to get the accommodation I needed, I must do the above mentioned process of submitting all those forms. However, I recently transferred to a different location (for other reasons). At the new location they are much more willing to work with me without going through that complicated process.

[@glenrisk5234]

Yeh I can't do it anymore. Used to be I could work for a couple of years then take a couple of years to repair. I didn't know why I had to live this way but I knew I did. It was always a problem, we have a better social security system here than some countries but not knowing what my disability was despite having been diagnosed as a child I always had problems with the government service employees. Been homeless more than once.

[@saraadams1391]

You crack me up, brings levity to my world. Excellent framing.

[@craigbrowning9448]

One challenge with adaptive technologies in order being a supermarket that had a metal tray on the floor to accommodate a cashier who was in a wheelchair (and wasn't there at the time). Walking along the front aisle of the supermarket I almost tripped over the thing. It's nice to accommodate people but it's nice to also make sure those accommodations have some kind of forewarning to not cause problems for others.

[@rummagehill]

I had hr come n say I had to have the light on... I had to get a note from the Dr ....so stupid I was only person in my office..

[@BabyGirl-cw6uj]

Jesus, WTFFFF. That's just bullying!

[@renfairegoddess]

I had a Director do this to me. I couldn't close the door either.

[@KeenanDenis]

What the...

[@carolynv8979]

My favorite accommodation is: don’t inform me of rules or procedures you don’t actually want followed. It seems obvious but neurotypicals are wild.