Autism in the workplace: an insider's perspective

People with autism often boast a rare and valuable skillset but many employers are still reluctant to implement specific recruitment initiatives because they’re uncertain of what obstacles will stand in their way before that untapped potential can be realised.
 
Here, SAP Canada employee Lydie Eustache sheds some light on the issue, offering candid advice to HR managers about the pros and cons of initiating an autism program:
 
An opportunity of a lifetime
 
I am a mom-of-two with a solid education in computer network administration and security, and I work for SAP Canada as a Quality Associate for wearable technologies. For an autistic person to be saying such a thing is still rather rare and wonderful. SAP’s Autism at Work program, which will ultimately lead to people with autism making up on 1% of its global workforce, gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.
 
It’s not easy for people on the autism spectrum to secure and hold down jobs. Not only am I happy to have found a job I can perform well in, but it’s also one that is suited to my interests and allows me to make an important contribution. The job has impacted my life in many positive ways. Making a good living for myself has lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders, and I can proudly tell people what I do for work when they ask me. I am setting an example to my kids and I can give them everything they want. There is generally a much stronger sense of worth in my life.
 
Serving the business
 
It was a big leap of faith for SAP to set up the Autism at Work program, but it’s paying off by bringing really strong, long-lasting mutual benefits to the company. This isn’t an altruistic pursuit for SAP; it’s one that is tapping into the unique talents of people on the autism spectrum to serve the business. After a successful pilot in India, the program has spread across North America and Europe. The focus is on finding people who excel in analytical thinking, have a prolonged attention to detail, and the ability to address problems from different perspectives. These are all valuable assets in product development.
 
So far, SAP is proving that the concept can be successful and fully integrated into the business for its own gains. However for that to be the case, the company has had to understand the quirks of people on different levels of the autism spectrum and use that knowledge to provide them with a comfortable working environment.
 
Adapting the environment
 
People with autism often feel like they have to change who they are to fit in, and in doing that they hide their autism. Recognising how to interact with them and how to help them feel relaxed is the key to embracing and enhancing their performance.
 
One of the most important things to remember is their strong tendency to take things literally, which means giving ambiguous direction or asking open questions is inviting disaster. Simply asking “how are you?” will likely attract an excessively detailed and honest answer. It’s best to keep instructions and questions specific and calling for brief answers. Instead of “how are you?” ask “are you well today?”
 
People across the autism spectrum do have very different personalities, skillsets and problems, so like everyone else we can’t be pigeonholed. However there are certain, more general, symptoms that specialists tend to focus on when making their diagnostics. One of these is sensitivity to over-stimulation. Lots of bright colours, noise and movements can trigger severe anxiety attacks that would take the employee’s concentration off their work.
 
Limiting the level of sensory input, by providing either noise cancelling headphones, or a smaller, less crowded work environment, can be very useful. Placing the person in a physical space where not many people pass by is a good idea. Offices typically do not decorate in bright colours, so this is usually not a problem, but the intensity of lighting can be difficult and even painful in some cases. Neon lights make lots of noise, especially when they need to be changed, as do ventilation systems. Paying attention to small details like this can make all the difference.
 
An honest approach
 
As I already mentioned, autistic people can be painfully honest. This makes them unable to cope with office-related power mongering, political power-plays, and so on. They generally won’t scheme to get ourselves into better positions in the company, and they won’t notice if someone is manipulating them in order to do the same.
 
Lacking that ability to see the ‘wolves’ in the office is what causes a lot of the problems for autistic people at work. Every office has political struggles and drama, and it’s when people with autism unknowingly get involved with something they don’t understand that they can put their jobs at risk. Furthermore, they typically don’t have ‘social filters’, meaning they can’t see the difference between how to act with the CEO and the janitor.
 
I will end my advice to companies considering an autism hiring program on a positive note. When you consider that people on the autism spectrum tend to hate big change in their lives, helping them be content at work could mean they remain extremely loyal to your company and give you their very best. And in a myriad of detail-oriented roles that ‘very best’ can be much more impactful and consistent than you’d expect of someone who’s not on the spectrum.
 
At SAP I’ve found a place I can be myself and be truly valued for it. Everyone on my team is unique and special in their own way, so I fit in perfectly. My work environment is small, quiet and offers very few distractions, and being able to socialise with similar people makes it much easier for me. It inspires me to believe there is a strong future for people with autism in the workplace.