Employers are failing to support neurodiversity at work, finds Acas Survey

Over a third of workers (35 per cent) think that their employer is ineffective at training managers to support neurodiversity at work, according to a new Acas survey.

The survey, carried out by YouGov, of 1,000 employees across Great Britain found that just 32 per cent think their organisation effectively trains managers to make reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent colleagues.

By contrast, 35 per cent said their employer was ineffective, with 18 per cent of those describing their employer as “very ineffective”. Almost one-third (32 per cent) of respondents said they didn’t know how effective their employer was at supporting neurodivergent staff, pointing to a potential lack of understanding of neurodiversity at work.

Neurodiversity describes the natural differences in how people’s brains behave and process information. Well-known types of neurodivergence include neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

A lot of neurodivergent people do not see themselves as disabled but will often be considered as having a disability under the Equality Act.

According to Acas figures, around 15-20 per cent of adults experience and process the world differently. Acas advice is that employers should make their organisation more inclusive, so that staff feel comfortable sharing and talking about neurodiversity.

Julie Dennis, Acas Head of Inclusive Workplace Strategy and Policy said: “These stats show a potentially worrying lack of knowledge when it comes to supporting neurodivergent colleagues, and how to put support at the centre of workplace policies and training.

“Supporting neurodivergent staff can be simple and cost-effective, and it should be integral to any business. When everyone is given the chance to thrive, every business can too.”

Acas has advice and training for employers on how to raise awareness, be inclusive, sensitive, and stay within the law when managing neurodiversity at work.