To what extent should you make accommodations for "time blindness"?

[ChedderGorgeous]

If a worker says they have "time blindness", what extent, if any, should you make accommodations for them in the workplace ? For example should they always have a 15 minute grace period for meetings and any agenda items involving them be moved to later in the meeting as a matter of course? Should you not be able to schedule meetings with them which are time critical ? My feeling is that if someone has "time blindness" then they should make changes in their day to day management to accommodate this in order to work as per their contract, rather like someone who gets the train, might get the train before , to ensure they get to work even if there are rail delays . AIBU ?

Ask for written evidence of a medical condition. If it's forthcoming then make allowances. If not, tell them to get their life in order.

Whilst I understand your point, consider whether you really want all companies to run in traditional way - or whether you think British Gas, the DWP, the BBC, Look Fantasic, John Lewis etc would all benefit by making accommodations to disabled staff.

I’m sure all the businesses I’ve listed, and much much more, regard being on time as important for the job - and if you strike out every traditional company as an impossible job for someone with difficulties managing time - you’re not going to be inclusive, modern and adaptable.

because I know of hardly any job where being on time isn’t fucking important.

No, you're right, you can't simply self-diagnose. I wasn't suggesting anyone could.

But for an employee displaying these sorts of traits it ought to be an opportunity for a supportive conversation with the line manager/HR which isn't immediately performance plan territory. It is certainly what I do with the team I manage. I'm talking things like discussing what would work best for them so they get to the meeting on time, not delaying the meeting or changing the format.

You're wrong about the private assessment though. That is not the answer.

I think that people with dyslexia, it is in my family, probably shouldn't be going for a job where being good at reading is key.

If you know that you struggle with being on time, getting a job in which being on time for meeings is a skill you need isn't really common sense, it sounds incredibly stressful.

This is not about ableism, it's about knowing your strengths, accepting that not everybody is good at everything and living your life accordingly rather than throwing yourself at something you'll inevitably be shit at, and dealing with the fallout of that.

thats interesting about making the meeting in the morning because another thing with ADHD is wait mode where you can't do anything else if you're waiting on something like an appointment so having it in the morning means they can focus the rest of the day.

Time blindness can affect people, especially with ADHD/undiagnosed ADHD but it is 100% their issue to put processes in place to avoid this.

Five minutes grace if you're lenient but I wouldn't expect someone to go out of their way for me in this instance. It's preventable with the right systems in play and as adults at work they should be able to implement systems.

You might have adhsd, and although you might struggle with time management- could you consider that someone might have even more cognitive difficulties than you do in that area?

sometimes I find the most unforgiving people are those who say “well I have X problem but I manage “ as if we all suffer with x problem to the same percentage.

I have adhd and addiction issues and I’ve no problem with alcohol addiction - does that mean everyone else should drink alcohol as often as I do, whether they’re an alcoholic or not? Because I have no problem stopping drinking .

I have enormous sensory difficulties with food - it’s a bit like people saying they will eat food even if they don’t like it to be polite. I could no more do that than sprout fins and turn into a shark.

i can manage my adhd and time blindness - to within 5 minutes if it’s important. I have a family member who can not, EVER, be expected to be on time, to any function, no matter how important. She’s just not physically able to be. Everyone around her manages her by lying about start times more or less.

no I get that- sorry was just giving my experience. For me the biggest challenge is procrastination/task paralysis and I know some people with ADHD don't struggle as much with that.

@Mummyofbananas

urgh, it’s the worst. I struggle with that too - I recently heard the term ‘autistic inertia’ and it’s something I need to look into more

https://autismawarenesscentre.com/what-is-autistic-inertia/

What is your understanding of time blindness OP? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts on how it manifests, and what the affected person experiences. That might help you decide what actions should follow.

wow thank you for sharing that - it's very interesting how much autism and adhd overlap even though they can look very different.

I don't think anyone is denying these difficulties exist for people (they do for me) the issue is that as an adult you need to find strategies for yourself that work and help you. I think its reasonable for an employer to help with that though training or some kind of support while setting those strategies up. I don't think its reasonable for people to expect to have their hand held every day at work or to be able to say I am ND so its not my fault I didn't make the meeting or deadline and I say that as someone with a ND diagnosis myself. I honestly think that if people push to far for special allowances then we will just end up pushed out of the work place, we need to meet employers in the middle.

My ds has time blindness and it's infuriating. He will definitely be late and miss things he wants to do. It isn't a choice. He excels at work because he hyper focuses and gets results others don't.

Thank you for the helpful replies. He is early 20s and we are trying to find ways to help him help his time blindness. It was described to me by an ADHD expert that there is no time to him. There is only now and not now.

He does manage deadlines by completing work very very much earlier than the deadline. (And also because the hyper focus means he will do nothing else- not eat, sleep or answer the call of nature!) That appears to be ok ish.

I expect adults to have strategies in place to deal with time blindness. For example, setting alarms and not ignoring them.

An employer should make allowances, but can also put support in place to help someone be on time. For example, can another colleague go and get them out of their chair and take them to a meeting if they are both attending?

Most people can manage to be on time for a flight, so they can manage to be on time for a work meeting.

You don't actually need evidence for a disability to qualify under the Equality Act.

Yes! People just need to use a planner and get organised!

/ sarcasm

People with invisible disabilities… have you ever considered not being disabled ?

or, not having a job?

just thought I’d help you all out there with some top tips from this thread. The more you know! No need to thank me.

@CatPancake I don't think many people on here are saying that at all they are saying that it is the individuals personal responsibility to do what they can to compensate for their difficulties, by doing that you encourage employers to make those reasonable accommodations.

A client I work with had this issue around Covid when staff took weeks and weeks off due to needing to ‘self-isolate’ because they got pinged on an app, but then not once had this issue when they went on holiday.

The excuses fall away when it’s something that people actually want to do.

@smoldragons

If I have to travel to an appointment I plan the day before what transport I will use, build in extra time for upsets then work backwards giving myself enough time to get ready and leave for the meeting, again building in extra time for an emergency……
I know all this is extra effort and that some people might not have to do all this but I don't see any other alternative

But isn’t that what everyone does for an important meeting ? I don’t know anyone who has an internal sense of time, perfect knowledge of transport routes and all possible future delays.

I think there’s give and take here.

My son has ADHD. The key with parenting him is trying to teach him strategies for living in the real world - whilst obviously being understanding as his parent, and asking for reasonable adjustments. But the key is reasonable! And that someone with ADHD does have to put strategies in place to live in the NT world.

I don’t think someone can say “I have time blindness so will just turn up as and when I can” without first demonstrating they’ve made all reasonable efforts to work to time. Outlook and Teams calendars make it pretty easy for anyone and everyone to be at work meetings on time.

I agree

Not sure I've ever known anyone who instinctively knows when to leave to get somewhere on time (other than routine journeys). Everyone plans their time surely ?

I wonder how late they would be if there was a million pounds waiting for them at exactly 8:30am in conference room B and they had a 20 second window to collect it.

I also think this is the baseline of what everyone has to do - I assume many people have to do more than this with multiple alarms, reminders etc