Many modern workspaces exist to facilitate productivity and wellbeing. The shift in focus from pure output to the overall wellbeing of employees is a positive one, allowing companies to support their workforce and reap the benefits of a sustainable model. In general, happier employees equal productive teams and this theory is supported time and time again in research.
The key is understanding how to make employees with various differences satisfied with their work environment. In this day and age, business leaders are well aware that a diverse workforce brings new perspectives; the benefits of bringing on board neurodiverse employees are far-reaching, allowing different skillsets to be expressed in the office.
This week, guest writer Katie Brenneman explores why and how companies can do more to cater to a neurodiverse workforce.
The advantages of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace
Neurodiversity is a broad term used to describe the unique ways people's brains work. Neurodivergent people have neurological differences that exist in the way they think, communicate, behave, move, and interact with others. These differences affect how they perceive the world, often resulting in sensory differences. Some differences under the neurodivergent umbrella include Autism, ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia.
Business Benefits
Globally, awareness of neurodiversity is growing, however neurodivergent employees can often be misunderstood or overlooked in the job search. Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace is beneficial for all parties, including the bottom line for your business.
By opening up your workforce to include neurodiverse employees, you are widening your talent pool, enhancing your team’s creativity, and increasing retention rates. Acknowledging neurodiversity and working toward a welcoming environment shows that your business is forward-thinking and adheres to its social responsibility. This initiative also gives you an edge over competitors when recruiting, as well as boosts your company’s overall public reputation.
Employee WellBeing
Creating a culture of wellbeing involves consideration of everyone working in your company. An inclusive workplace that accommodates the needs of neurodiverse employees can significantly reduce workplace stress, improving overall mental health and wellbeing.
Lower stress levels at work leads to greater productivity, job performance, engagement, communication, and physical functioning. When employees feel understood and supported, their job satisfaction increases, leading to higher motivation and productivity. Learning how to provide adequate support and accommodations to boost the confidence of neurodiverse employees is crucial in order to enable them to excel in their roles, and contribute to the wellbeing of the entire team.
Physical workspace attributes
The frequent sensory issues that many neurodivergent people live with can make environmental factors of utmost importance to their comfort and ability to work productively.
There are several tweaks you can make to your physical workspace to accommodate a wide variety of neurodivergent individuals. Consider some of the following:
Create organised office layouts with quiet spaces, or sensory rooms where employees can retreat when feeling overwhelmed.
Offer noise-cancelling headphones and adjustable lighting to create a sensory-friendly workspace.
Provide clear signage and visual aids to help with navigation.
Offer flexible work hours or remote work options to accommodate individual needs.
Provide assistive technologies, such as screen readers or specialised software, as needed.
Set your work environment up for success by taking as many diverse needs into account as possible. In order to get a sense of the full picture, why not intermittently poll employees to see how well the workplace is meeting their needs and adjust accordingly?
While this may be a small investment upfront, the boost in productivity will have the physical upgrades paying for themselves in no time.
Employee support
Your neurodivergent employees will already feel more included and supported when they notice the attention to detail you have put into creating a productive work environment for them.
You can even conduct individual assessments to determine the specific accommodations each neurodiverse employee may require - do keep in mind that not all accommodations will be tangible.
Properly supporting your employees is tantamount to building a resilient team. Rather than catering solely to how you think someone without neurodiverse needs will handle workplace obstacles, offer an array of options.
When looking into what to add to your current employee engagement strategy, consider some of these tips:
Review and adapt your recruitment processes to be more inclusive, such as providing clear job descriptions and minimising biases in interviews.
Conduct training sessions to educate all employees about neurodiversity and the specific challenges and strengths of neurodiverse individuals. Encourage open communication and empathy among team members.
Offer programmes with mentors or allies who can provide guidance and support.
Enhance your employee benefits package to better accommodate neurodiverse needs, such as increased mental healthcare coverage, transportation reimbursement, mental wellness paid time off, and disability insurance, to name a few.
Create employee resource groups or support networks for neurodiverse employees to connect and share experiences.
Allow individuals to manage their workload in any way that suits them. Even if that means adjusting policies, it can be the difference between a productive, neurodiverse employee and a dissatisfied, stressed employee.
Regularly seek feedback from neurodiverse employees to understand their evolving needs.
Adjust your policies and workflow as needed to reflect this feedback.
Allowing neurodivergent employees to feel seen and heard in the office will give them the space to express themselves and the freedom to fully contribute to the team in the best ways they know how.
Rather than completely adapting to neurodivergent needs, make sure to involve everyone equally in decision-making. What makes one employee comfortable may inhibit productivity for another employee. The important thing is to encourage open and honest communication, allowing discourse to happen around the best solution for everyone involved.
Moving forward with neurodivergent productivity
The stigma surrounding neurodivergence is lessening, and gradually individuals are becoming more inclined to be open about their differences with employers.
As a modern company, it’s vital that you listen to these voices. Creating a productive environment for neurodiverse employees is a win-win for both your team and your business as a whole. By recognising their unique skills and contributions and providing a supportive and inclusive workplace, you can foster innovation, improve employee wellbeing, and enhance your overall bottom line.
With a commitment to continuous improvement, your company can evolve with the changing needs and expectations of society. Be change makers in this space and do your due diligence by fostering a productive environment for all employees, keeping in mind that needs may change and you can always pivot to make work better for everyone.
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specialising in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content.
When she isn't writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.