Too many off sick

[Scintella]

My ideas- (as gov seems utterly stumped)

There should be an opportunity to work 2 days a week for 2 months, then 3 days for 6 months until the worker feels able to cope with full time.
All the people diagnosed with ADHD and autism pre 2000 are possibly not properly medicated - are they being followed up regularly are they on the best treatment (some of which are new since their diagnosis)
All the people with undiagnosed ADHD and autism pre 2000 who with good support and medication could work
All the negative media we see on a daily basis giving the impression of a rich class who are swanning around and living off suspect unearned money etc etc There are many but it's not everyone and people such as doctors pay 40% tax or thereabouts. I think this puts people off slogging for a min wage job whcih require still benefits too to live makes them feel WTF should I?
Low income often means UPF food as it's cheapest. Subsidise fruit and veg.
Charities start more meet up groups/ walking groups/ fitness groups with cheap free access.

More support groups for mental health problems. People are too isolated at home with phone and tv. The time is filled but makes it harder to go out and socialise. Also discourages exercise.
No lodgings as there were in the past. So single men, women living alone in tiny flats eating takeaways. In the past they'd be in lodgings with social contact and an evening meal. For one person a takeaway is prob cheaper. Some people do need support but we pretend they don't now.
If there were a few of the get together groups in an area so easily accessed I think that would make a big difference.
Of course the NHS needs fixed etc and councils need more money but that isn't going to happen soon

I was thinking of sen people I work with - doubt they can cook a meal so just eat unhealthy food -some are huge, some are stick thin.

Autistic people definitely do need extra support at work but there's a limit of support available for autistic people.

We're also limited to what jobs we can do.

For example, I don't really do well with unprompted questions, I like to know what's coming in advance otherwise I can feel emotionally overwhelmed and anxious, but that requires a lot of forethinking and planning on every one else's behalf. People aren't perfect and not everything can be scheduled.

I need a fixed routine, so I need fixed shifts, when the businesses needs change however or employers will only do flexible working plans on a 12 month basis, routines inevitably change.

I can't cope with bright lights or loud noises, and the more I mask a meltdown the more monotonous and blunt I become, which means any one dealing with me will seem like they're getting a short shrift but really I just can't put on that mask any more. I work from home because of this, but also because of this, I'm limited to which jobs I can do.

I have misophonia, and I encounter at least one person on teams or on the phone a day eating or drinking or gargling or making some noise that just sends me spiralling. This can't be helped and I can't mask through it. This can happen multiple times a day, not just with eating and drinking, but background noise, kids, the sound in the background when people are using a speakerphone in the car, etc. I can need up to an hour each time to get over it and no employer is going to allow 3, 4, 5 plus hours a day every time I have a meltdown to a sensory sensitivity. When you're in a teams meeting with your higher ups and they're all slurping tea, all talking over eachother, you can't just leave, no matter how many times you point out this could have been an email which is a reasonable adjustment I have also requested, that anything that can be said in writing is, and anything that can't be is done on a 1 on 1 basis, but have been told there aren't enough resources to facilitate doing that.

On top of that I've sensory sensitivities that affect me at home, like things that are wet and sticky, that rules out cleaning jobs, no matter how many times the job centre has tried to shoehorn me in that direction.

The new law allowing people to apply for flexible working from recruitment has caused implications in my current workplace in that my employer cannot facilitate my needs as an existing employee because theyve taken on cohorts with flexible working needs, and other employers are looking for people to fit specific roles and my request cannot meet their business need.

On top of this, you meet a person with autism, and that's it, you've met a person with autism. Everyone's needs are different. So you get employers saying we've done this in the past for so and so why is this not good enough for you?

I'd love to hear Rishi's plan to tackle meeting the needs of autistic individuals in the workplace instead of this get on with it mindset which just leads to burnout and longer stints of absence and trauma.