How to make sure the future of blended working is bright for neurodiverse employees

The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted everyone’s focus on what the future of the workplace will look like. With social distancing measures in place, and restrictions on the number of people allowed in areas at one time, the future of modern workplaces could be a focus on blended working.

What is blended working?

Blended working is where employees work both onsite (in the office) and off-site (at home). It also includes using online training. A blended workforce includes employees on different contracts, such as permanent, part-time, contractors, freelancers, and temporary workers. It has been argued that a blended workplace promotes diversity and can bring about positive outcomes, such as: increased productivity, higher work satisfaction, collaboration, and can reduce absenteeism. Employers need to ensure that the culture in the workplace is inclusive and every employee should feel that they are returning to a supportive and caring environment. Blending working brings many positives to the future of workplaces, however, neurodiverse individuals may require support in adjusting to a blended working lifestyle.

Impact of blended working on neurodiversity 

As we enter another lockdown, many neurodiverse workers have already had to adjust to working from home, and indeed some may have already been in the process of returning back to the office. The impact in change of routine may pose some challenges. And, as employers prepare for a future of blended working, what can they do to ensure neurodiverse individuals achieve awork-life blend?

Routine

The constant change in working from home and then travelling to the office during the week could be difficult for some people with a neurodiverse condition, such as those with ASC (Autism Spectrum Condition). It can lead to feelings of stress or anxiety if a structure is not put into place. Some ASC individuals even report having sleepless nights when they think about their travel to work.

Preparation is key. Speaking to employers and setting up a fixed schedule can help manage feelings of anxiety. Looking ahead and planning travel time to the office can help to feel prepared. Keeping basic structures in place, such as waking up at the same time every day and having a set time for going to bed, may also ease feelings of overwhelm.

Socially distanced office spaces

Organisations are restructuring workplaces post lockdown. From one-way systems being constructed, socially distanced workstations, to new rules on shared kitchen usage. This means that new rules need to be learned and understood. ASC individuals may find this sudden change difficult to understand and manage, therefore would benefit from advance notice of these changes. Neurodiverse individuals may also find other challenges when entering socially distanced office spaces, such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and adjusting to fewer people being in the office.

PPE in the workplace

Wearing PPE equipment at work, such as masks and gloves, are being widely introduced. Neurodiverse individuals can have sensitivity issues, such as being oversensitive to sound and touch. Some may find wearing a mask to be uncomfortable, and others may find it difficult to communicate as they may not be able to hear clearly, or see the mouth moving if they rely on lip-reading. Reasonable adjustments need to be considered to factor this in, such as providing those who are unable to wear a mask with a pass, so others can understand that there is a reason for this, to avoid any misunderstandings in following office rules. Adaptive PPE equipment could be considered, such as inserting mask brackets into face masks, to provide more room for breathing, and reducing the mask from touching the face.

Social etiquette in the workplace

Social interaction could be limited, with some workers wanting to maintain social distancing levels, while others may be a little bit more flexible. Some neurodiverse individuals, such as those with ADHD and dyslexia, may find this to be socially isolating. Setting up team meetings and events can help to drive engagement. Some neurodiverse individuals may be worried and apprehensive about returning to the workplace. Providing a safe environment for individuals can help ensure that everyone is comfortable with the different levels of social distancing. Arranging return to work conversations with line managers can help to identify work priorities and allow for an open dialogue to raise any concerns which would help neurodiverse individuals to plan and prepare for a work-life blend.

Organisation

Checklists and to-do lists are helpful for those with a neurodiverse condition, as they can assist with time management and act as a reminder of tasks and appointments. Keeping organised professionally and personally can help to feel prepared, such as preparing lunches the night before, laying out work clothes, looking ahead to see what important deadlines and meetings are approaching and packing a bag the night before with the work laptop, phone and safety equipment, such as hand sanitisers, gloves and masks.

Training

Many employees during lockdown have been unable to do their substantive role and some may need to undergo workplace training to adjust to completing tasks in a post lockdown environment. Neurodiverse individuals may struggle to read under timed conditions, however, the use of assistive technology, such as Read&Write from Texthelp, which can be used on many devices, could support individuals to understand written text effectively and support them when reading training documents at home or at work.

Flexible working will also need to account for how training and learning is delivered in the future, and some neurodiverse individuals would find it beneficial to know what support can be put in place for them, and what further resources they can access to help achieve a work-life blend.

Remember, achieving a work-life blend is to also allow time to switch off and relax when not at work, especially when working from home.

Working in partnership with specialists in neurodiversity in the workplace, such as Lexxic, can help organisations and neurodiverse individuals to access resources, such as e-Learning modules on strategy skills or awareness-raising modules on neurodiversity, which can be accessed on the go and on most devices. The future of a work-life blend looks bright and having the adjustments and support in place can ensure that this is a smooth transition for neurodiverse individuals.

Pooja Sudera-Gupta, Business Psychologist at Lexxic

Hear more from Lexxic in our video series partnership. Across three short videos, we explore neurodiverse conditions in detail and offer advice on what organisations can do to support neurodiverse employees.