biblophile
Well-Known Member
Should I tell perspective employers about my Asperger's?
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In short, no, unless you already know that you will need accommodations to perform the duties of the job.Should I tell perspective employers about my Asperger's?
I fear you are right. I have never disclosed to employers before, but as soon as they even suspect there was something " wrong" with me I was let go. I did manage to hold a job down for a few years, but this was because I; A. avoided any contact with the boss. B. the other people I worked with were all a bit off, so strange behavior was less noticeable. Eventually I started feeling that the jig was up, largely because I came to the attention of one of the company snitch's who was reporting me to the office. I suddenly started to get bad reviews, accusations of having a bad attitude, and not being a team player.In regards to the application/interview process, no. Absolutely not. Here's why: While there are anti-discrimination laws on the books of the civilized nations of the world which "prevent" hiring discrimination targeted at people with disabilities, the problem is that discrimination is impossible to prove at that stage because it would take a Grade A dumbass to actually admit to it. Employers can and probably WILL discriminate against you. The reasons for that boil down to risk management more than anything.
Understand where the manager is sitting in this situation. Once you reach the pay grade within the management system where the millionaire(s) that own the place are trusting you to make decisions with significant financial ramifications (who to add to the payroll, in this instance) - it's a different game at that level than it is for the peon-managers.
To that end, one of the ABC's of Operations Management is the concept of Risk Assessment. In practice, it means identifying sources of potential risk (to company assets and interests), estimating the magnitude of the risk, and then figuring out what to do with it.
In the case of someone who has disclosed that they have a disability before being hired, the risk analysis goes like this: (1) This person would be difficult to fire on a whim (2) If fired, this person could sue the company for discrimination (3) If this person is ever passed over for promotion, they could sue the company for discrimination (4) If this person ever feels slighted by a co-worker or manager for any reason, they could sue the company for discrimination.
See where I'm going with that? Individual rights are the enemy of power structures - but fear not Mr. Hiring Manager, there's thirty other applications that don't carry that kind of risk. Now file that disabled person's application under "T" for "Trash" and make sure to go to Church this Sunday.
In my previous job, a co-worker started to give me a problem, and I got a less-than-perfect review over it. I decided to divulge my diagnosis, looking for a little support out of management. I got no encouragement, but all my reviews after that turned into "No deficiencies noted." Damning with faint praise? Perhaps, but it was better than a negative, and I kept my job until I could quit on my own terms.I fear you are right. I have never disclosed to employers before, but as soon as they even suspect there was something " wrong" with me I was let go. I did manage to hold a job down for a few years, but this was because I; A. avoided any contact with the boss. B. the other people I worked with were all a bit off, so strange behavior was less noticeable. Eventually I started feeling that the jig was up, largely because I came to the attention of one of the company snitch's who was reporting me to the office. I suddenly started to get bad reviews, accusations of having a bad attitude, and not being a team player.
I quit before they could fire me.
it is a sad world indeed when one has to hide who they are just to make a living like everybody else, and when one cannot find a job and are forced to go on welfare people complain that you are a freeloader, or are just lazy.
it is a sad world indeed when one has to hide who they are just to make a living like everybody else, and when one cannot find a job and are forced to go on welfare people complain that you are a freeloader, or are just lazy.
...working 80 hours a week on minimum wage...