AIBU to think dismissal during probation was unfair given autism adjustments?

[SereneRoseRobin]

I’m looking for honest views because I’m not sure whether I’m being unreasonable or whether this was genuinely unfair.

I was recently dismissed from a graduate/analyst role after my probation was extended. I am autistic, and my employer knew this. I had raised the need for clear written instructions, defined objectives, examples of similar work, timelines, and timely/direct feedback. Some support was put in place, including coaching, but I don’t feel the actual adjustments were properly embedded or reviewed before the decision was made.

The difficult part is that the concerns raised about me seemed mainly to focus on communication style, professional behaviour, asking for clarification, Teams messages, and quality assurance under pressure — rather than on whether I could actually do the analytical work. Some recent written feedback said my analytical skills were good, that my work did not contain relevant errors, that I was taking ownership, and that I sought support appropriately. Another person said I had picked up on a complex project well.

The project I was criticised on was not straightforward. I was a first-year graduate with no prior experience in that sector, and I was assigned open-ended/data-heavy modelling work with a lot of ambiguity and short deadlines. Some outputs were expected within hours or by the next day, so there was not much time for structured review. I also didn’t always get timely feedback while I could still act on it. Some feedback came months after the work had ended.
My probation extension was meant to allow support and coaching to take effect, but I was dismissed before the extension period had fully ended. I had submitted evidence of improvement the day before the decision, but I don’t feel it was properly discussed or considered.
The coaching report apparently said the benefit of coaching should be assessed after a longer period, because performance can dip while new strategies embed.

I’m appealing because I think they didn’t properly separate disability-related communication issues from actual capability, didn’t give recent improvement enough weight, and didn’t consider alternatives such as letting the extension run, providing clearer QA/communication frameworks, assigning more standard analyst work, or redeploying me to a more suitable team.

I’m not saying I was perfect. I know there were areas to improve. But I feel like I was assessed against unclear expectations, on complex work, without the timely feedback and structure that had already been identified as necessary for me.

AIBU to think this was unfair and potentially linked to disability discrimination/failure to make reasonable adjustments? Or is this just how probation works, and I should accept it and move on?

It doesn’t, but laziness isn’t relevant here.

Everyone on here only has the op's version of what is happening

Recording someone without their permission is unprofessional and damages trust. I had a boss do this with phone calls. This caused upset and some staff left when they found out. You weren’t a good fit and they’ve let you go. They’re never going to want you back so focus on getting another job. Next time ask for the appropriate methods of communication and do not record staff.

Looks like the OP has done enough wrong things by her own admission to lose her job without needing to add laziness to it.

There are definitely some jobs that are less suited to those of us with ND issues.

I have ADHD and work retail. Which sounds ok....but I also have severe depression and anxiety so not only do I get to try and mask the ADHD difficulties I also have to do the same with the mental illness which is..at times hard.

Do t get me wrong, there are definitely times I am 100% not suited to a customer facing role. Unfortunately as is the way of the world sometimes you just have to deal with it and persevere. Truth be told after 13 years in this job I know I'd find it extremely difficult to try and do any other job and to start again with training etc which I know with my very impaired memory is doubtful be able to remember/pass any kind of probation.

So I make do.

I will give my employer kudos to the fact they have implemented reasonable adjustments. For me that involves no morning shifts (originally due to being on anti psychotic medication that left me very sedated, now due to my timing of taking ADHD meds whilst I was under titration), no shifts longer than 6 hours (for 6 hots I get 2 paid 15 mins breaks -going over that I do struggle mentally), and fixed days (I work the same 4 days a week with 3 days off in-between whi hbgive some adequate time to arrange many medical appointments and also a rest in-between shifts). I also don't do one element of my job between the busiest time (12-2) and only one close shift per week as both of those were determined under a stress risk assessment undertaken by area manager (and as advised by OH) to lessen stress risk factors.

It seems to work cos I've now held down this job for over 13 years (which considering prior to that I was on ESA in ten support group and told I might never be able to work again).

Not every adjustment will be reasonable, and not every job will be suitable, even with adjustments. It's often a case of finding something you CAN do and hoping your employer feels the same

That’s lovely to hear, that it’s working out for you.

Your responses here make me think you don’t take responsibility for your own mistakes, particularly you comments around transcribing a call. It may be that you aren’t a good fit for this job. In terms of asking what else you can do, that’s literally on you to work out. If you can’t make it work in one workplace then it’s your responsibility to find a role/environment that works for you. Your posts read like you think it’s the workplace’s responsibility to suit you when actually it’s the other way around.

As I have explained in this thread, I was disgnosed with Asperger's, now banded together as autism, not a condition on its own.

I have years of experience in autism due to my own condition, my experience in supporting relatives with autistic spectrum conditions and peer support (which I am bloody good at). So take it from me, people with autism are individuals, and some of us are actually lazy. We can lie too! Not necessarily well, but we're not automatically saints.

And I am "conflating the two" as you put it, because you need to think about the impact of excessive workloads on other colleagues. Excessive workload doesn't become magically achievable because the colleague causing it has a disability, rather than being incompetent.

Not enough people have clocked this. The Op is a period flyer who comes in, starts 5 overlapping threads same day on work issues the OP has caused and almost never bothers to say thanks or acknowledge anyone who has spent real time helping. Zero self awareness every time and never willing to acknowledge their part in what has happened. Everyone else and the job is the problem.

Why don’t you just apply for a job you can do?

People generally don't like working with people who add to their workload whether due to ND or not.

People don't tend to apply for jobs they can't do. Why should the OP apply for a job that requires a skill set she doesn't have? She can't work to a deadline, she can't follow instructions (see video call example) and her communication skills are poor.

OP you can keep arguing the toss forever, or you can learn from this and move on.

Which do you want?

And instead of wasting your time on MN, apply for some jobs you can do.

The world doesn’t revolve around you you know.

Are you in a union?
I think you have a good case.

If you knew the level of effort an autistic person has to expend every day just to simply operate you would be able to work that out yourself. Just because they don’t spend energy on things you think they should doesn’t make them lazy. Imagine the effort it takes to do anything in a nonsense world where everyone speaks a different language

OP a lot of self-important twats think autistic people should just go and work in a warehouse or down at the dump or something (I'm not denigrating that kind of work, and I've done it myself, but you know what I mean), and I really sympathise with what you've been through. Unfortunately being accepted in workplaces is less about the quality of your work and more about if you make your colleagues' lives easier and if they gel with you as a person. I would say that consultancy/agency/professional services type jobs are hideous for autistic people - if I were you I'd look for something slow, procedural, and in-house 💐

Are you serious? Have you read all the OP’s threads?

Can you help and suggest suitable jobs

Something in IT Support maybe, where the work tends to be following procedures to a large extent. It seems that the OP struggles to take initiative.

Doesn’t that involve having to communicate well with users? And does the OP have any IT knowledge?

OP, am I right in thinking you're "grad-age" (i.e. about 22?) Being in your early 20s and new to the workplace is so bloody difficult, and it's even harder to end up in a sector and company that works for you first time around. My advice is don't be afraid to change sectors, more than once if you need to. You did well to get on a grad scheme so you just need to learn what you can from this experience and try something new.

Depends on the OPs skill set. Not all autistic people are the same, it would be very rude to make assumptions based on ND.

From the OPs first post she needs clear procedures to follow when dealing with things. Working in a test lab could be suitable, or following flow chart instructions on customer queries, some sort of programming (if she has IT skills),data entry or quality control.

I would think it's vanishingly unlikely for anyone to pass an extended probation period as extending probation isn't a sincere means of giving an employee a chance, it's a way of managing them out. My advice to anyone who has a probation period extended would be to look for a new job urgently. I take a really dim view of probation extensions - very cowardly move.

Just a suggestion. IT workers are not expected to be able to communicate as well as consultants. It’s more about being technically competent which may suit the OP better. I say that as someone with appalling communication skills myself so no criticism of the OP intended.

But she’s already been dismissed from two.