New promotion, excellent line manager!

[Mabelface]

I've just moved from a dept where I had to fight for adjustments to the point of 2 grievances which were upheld, before they were begrudgingly given. I'm also part of the nd community in work which is growing and we're chipping away at the lack of knowledge and support within the business.

It was always a fight for me to get the time to attend meetings etc. Even though I'm one of the network leads for the community, I'd constantly have barriers put in my way.

My new manager, well, all I can say is wow. Her priority is that I have everything I need in place, says I must attend these meetings in work time and come back to get with any actions she can do. I can have the time needed to invest in the community as she thinks it's absolutely.

Not only is my input asked for, it's massively valued. I'm treated like a grown up with how I plan my week, and have full autonomy. Consequently, I'll work really hard and really well and I have a lot of respect for her. She realises that an nd brain thinks differently and is actually an advantage for what my team does.

Doesn't sound like much really, as it's exactly how it should be, but I'm sure it'll resonate with a lot of you that this isn't the norm by any means. I've been shat on so much previously. I ended the week with my first 121, expecting to be told where I needed to improve etc, but only got enormous support and glowing feedback. I love my new role. 😊

Oh, and hello again, it's been a while!

Your new manager sounds great! Congratulations on your new role and so pleased for you that it looks like you've landed in the right place for you!

This makes me smile so much. I have a manager like this, it changed my life. I went from just praying I wouldn’t get fired to promotions and climbing the career ladder. I am also involved in a ND workplace community and this manager’s support + the comfort from meeting people like me at work make me thrive.

I wish for a world where all autistic people get this treatment at work. Congratulations, and enjoy!

Thank you! It's going great, although due to a bit of software not working, it's thrown me because I can't build my routine. Work stuff is fine, everything else has gone to shit. I'm not worried though, I know the reason why my brain has freaked out and it'll get sorted.

User, what a world of difference, eh? A year ago, I was still recovering from burn out at work, this year I'm thriving.

Brilliant news @Mabelface I'm so pleased for you. Having a good manager is life changing!

I'm currently in the grievance stage re: discrimination on the grounds of disability/failure to apply reasonable adjustments and bullying from my manager.

Reading your post gives me a glimmer of hope.

Clarice, the very best of luck to you. I won't lie, it was really shit and it made me very ill. BUT, you know that strong sense of justice we have? Draw on it, use it, keep the "how the fuck dare they" in your head. If you've no occy health referral yet, ask for it. Make sure you have a colleague or union rep with you for all meetings. Don't let the fuckers drive you out and down.

Thank you🌻

I've been to occupational health, they recommended I'm not managed her, but I'd already been placed under someone else by that time anyway. My trade union rep has been involved throughout.

I work for a local authority. As with a lot of large organisations, everything takes far too long. But, that strong sense of justice you mentioned - I have that in abundance! I am very tenacious and I will not let that fucking bastard get away with what she's done.

You absolutely go! I'm cheering you in hugely here. My department leadership team had to attend mandatory training after mine 😉😂

@Mabelface @user1471548941 Can I ask how you got involved with / set up a ND network? This is something I am interested in (though also terrified at the very thought!) though I worry it is partly because I want to be 'out' at work - I am finding it hard not to mention my ND, probably because of my tendency to impulsive over-sharing!!

I joined an already existing albeit tiny one which is now growing in size and recognition.

Do you have an inclusion and diversity lead, or people manager? They're the type of people you need to speak to.

I did some speaking events for Autism Acceptance Month in April- shared my experience on a panel, helped push our HR team to run training sessions and contributed to that. This meant more people who already worked there reached out to me and disclosed their diagnosis’s also.

We then started a monthly coffee catch up session which started with 4/5 people and then formalised it with our disability resource group, sending site wide comms and having an open session every month. Now we get 20/30 people each month and we discuss topics that impact us in the workplace/things we are struggling with and provide feedback to our diversity and inclusion managers on things we think need changing, so for example, how our needs would be facilitated when the whole site switched to flexi working/hot desking.

Aw this sounds really great.

My manager makes sympathetic noises since I was diagnosed with ADHD, but is honestly a bit shit at doing much.

I got NC headphones because I could look for them myself to get through work, but I bet she hasn't bothered to look into the other recommendations, e.g training for her (and our team if they want it).

She sort of means well, but I was cringing at a recent 1 to 1 where she's put about offering support "now that we know your limitations" which felt great. 😬

I don't think it's personal, she is quite ineffective at most people management.

We don't have a specific workplace group that I know of, there's an overall inclusion group and initiatives to encourage and help disabled people to get a job in the company. But not so much for existing employees.