Employer’s Guide to Autism Workplace Adjustments UK

According to recent data by the ONS, only 29% of people with autism are in any kind of employment. This shockingly low figure demonstrates the urgent need for employers to implement autism workplace adjustments UK. 

For UK employers, this is a significant underuse of a talent pool that could be hugely beneficial to your workforce. And with the skills shortage UK at an all-time high, there is an undeniable and effective solution to this problem. 

In this blog post, we’ll look at some common struggles faced by people with autism at work and share how your business can successfully provide autism workplace adjustments to attract top talent to your organisation.

Let’s get right to it.

How Autism Can Impact Employees in the Workplace

To better understand the importance of autism workplace adjustments, it’s essential that we first understand how people with autism may struggle in a traditional workplace setting. The more we know about autism, the more we can support those around us. 

The following are some ways in which adults with autism can struggle in work environments: 

• Information processing: People with autism may have difficulty processing information, particularly verbal and social information, the same way a neurotypical does. This means that receiving instructions at work can be more confusing, thus creating a greater chance of miscommunication.
• Connecting with colleagues: Autistic adults can find it difficult to make and maintain connections. This makes it harder for them to feel connected to those around them at work, leading to isolation and poor integration into the company. 
• Emotional dysregulation: Finding it difficult to regulate your emotions is an important aspect of autism. Some autistic adults can get very upset or distressed at things a neurotypical person might not notice. Dealing with such intense emotions can make it difficult to stay at work during more difficult times. 
• Misunderstanding from others: Sometimes people with autism smile less (or more) and struggle to pick up on social cues. This can make them seem rude or uninterested at work, even though they’re not. It’s a misunderstanding that can hold them back.

Now that we better understand how people with autism can find a typical work environment overwhelming, stressful, and anxiety-inducing, we can discuss ways to support them. 

Ways to Introduce Autism Workplace Adjustments UK

It’s estimated that over 1.2 million people in the UK have autism. So, we’ve outlined some key strategies for employers who want to implement workplace adjustments for people with autism in the UK.

Understanding sensory sensitivities

Many autistic individuals experience heightened sensory perception. Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or uncomfortable clothing can be distracting or overwhelming. This has a negative effect on their concentration and productivity. 

Employers should consider adjustments like noise-cancelling headphones, designated quiet areas, adjustable lighting, or flexible clothing policies.

Communication strategies

As mentioned above, communication and information processing can be more difficult for people with autism, especially with verbal instructions.

Therefore, you should always aim to provide clear and concise instructions, followed up by written communication. This allows your employees to process the information before taking action. Visual aids like flowcharts or mind maps can also be helpful.

Work schedules and organisation

For many people with autism, large crowds of people can be extremely overwhelming. For instance, taking public transport at peak times can cause unnecessary distress and panic. 

Offering flexible work schedules gives autistic employees the freedom to choose a schedule that works around the number of spoons they have (their energy level). Furthermore, it’s best to provide clear deadlines and expectations in writing and offer visual planning tools like calendars or to-do lists.

The power of collaboration

People with autism often struggle with making connections and being misunderstood. As such, a supportive team environment can make a big difference. 

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to encourage your entire workforce to be patient and understanding. Disability awareness training is the ideal way to ensure everyone is on the same page and understands the needs of their colleagues. You could also consider assigning a mentor who can offer support and guidance.

Making adjustments together

The only real way to understand what your employees need is to keep open and effective communication at all times. 

One way to do this is to organise regular individual meetings where autistic employees can freely and openly share their experiences in the workplace. During this time, you can discuss the adjustments that would be most helpful for them and ways to implement them effectively.

Employer resources

Several resources can help employers create a more autism-friendly workplace. As well as awareness training for staff, the UK government also offers guidance and financial support for employers. 

For instance, a new government grant totalling £7.6 million has been launched by the Local Supported Employment (LSE) initiative to get people with autism into work.

Employing People with Autism

People with autism still face many unfair barriers and roadblocks in recruitment and employment. By implementing workplace adjustments for people with autism, employers can create a more equal and inclusive workplace for all employees. 

Are you an employer on a journey to becoming more inclusive? Here at Careers with Disabilities, we connect diverse talent with disability-confident employers.

• Advice and support – Our website is packed with resources for employers, including guides on local assistance and the benefits of employing job seekers with disabilities. Find the latest industry insights on our blog. 
• Attract top talent – Get in touch to advertise your roles on our dedicated disability-friendly jobs board.
• Find diverse talent – Our job advert inclusivity screening tests your ad against our “Inclusive Language Checklist” to remove potentially discriminatory language.
• Advertise your business – Our talented team of writers works with you to create a company profile that documents your efforts as a leading inclusive employer.

Join our network and reach a pool of 10,000+ diverse applicants and top talent.

Have a question? Email us at info@careerswithdisabilities.com or give us a call on 0345 872 4501.