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Staff costs are the highest expenditure in business, so how to retain those skills within. The trained skills, the people with potential, and can grow and really benefit the business as part of teams. Just consider the cost of not understanding and losing the skills. Performance panels can lead to loss of morale, staff and skills, if skills have not been recognised, through the review system.

I have commented before,but it is work repeating I feel. I am not, nor will I be the last to receive an autism diagnosis after misunderstandings and issues at work. And feeling I had no choice but to leave with my skills.

Hopefully having considered Recruitment, Respect , Ripening and Reviews good rapport and understanding will have been reached with your staff.

1/ We will feel valued and respected as we are, and feel part of the team. This will result in less masking, acting to fit in, and therefore be more relaxed.

2/ Reasonable adjustments can help us fit in, and be understood. These should be discussed with the person, with no assumptions with regular reviews and issues discussed soon after the event, in an open manner. I have been in a situation where apparently Reasonable adjustments had been put in place – without telling or discussing with me, or reviewed when perceived not to be working. This is not the best approach. Done well and this produces good results.

3/ Communications – if these are open, and clear, there will be an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, and open communication will follow. The preferred form may vary, and how, just like with anyone.

4/ Increase the value or understanding that ‘disabilities’ or rather different abilities can bring to business, different insights, different viewpoints, that can improve the business.

Autistic people have great skills, but according to the National Autistic Society in 2016 only 16% of autistic people are in full time work. More want to be. We want to be recognised as valued employees, working to our potential, as part of a team, not just ticks in boxes to meet legal requirements. Take time to invest in autistic, even if it takes more effort, and boy, it will be worth the effort.

Until my next insight into the autistic world.