How many of you are unemployed?

[Warwick C]

Asheskyler and grumpy cat I think you both are trying to be very professional about your jobs and I commend you two on that.

 

[AsheSkyler]

I must say that I have found most Aspie men on this site are very respectable when it comes to sex stuff and women. I really like that. I'm getting some problems at my new job with the guy orienting me. He said a couple things that I think I posted about in "How do you feel today" thread and again Sunday I was on the computer to give this patient insulin and he was helping me chart what spot to choose on the patient and he said "I think this one." The site was "penis". The patient was sitting right there. I just wanted to say "Dude, grow up already." I had a hard time covering up my facial expression and the patient was wondering what we were talking about. I mean if you want to show me the "funny" just do it later - not in a patients room! If I was just right out of nursing school and ignorant, I'd be very uncomfortable with the situation. So, what I'm trying to say is that I much prefer how Aspie men act.

The guys here are pretty great. And the ladies too. I dunno if they're simply mature (in the non-naughty way) or they're outright ladies and gentlemen. The world needs more ladies and gentlemen. Without the frou-frou. Can't work hard in frou-frou clothes.

 

[Warwick C]

slightly off topic but could it be that we are more understanding of others because of our own differculties.

 

[grapesicles]

Currently looking for select jobs to apply to - have applied to 2 already! Think I mentioned this in another thread, but one is a local company I'd be thrilled to work for. However I was discussing my CV with (older and more experienced) friends today, and they literally facepalmed at some of the stuff I put in there. At the time I thought it sounded fine but I guess it's not what people want to hear! Especially that I put my previous employer said I was "very friendly and mature" - which I think are good qualities! But the friends all said that would get the document binned immediately. I shall see anyway - hopefully I'll sound more appealling in other ways to whoever ends up reading mine!

I think the issues with managing to find and get jobs are the (lack of) ability to read non-verbal cues, and not just empathising with someone, but really being able to understand exactly what they want in such situations. Such as what they really want you to say in the interview. If someone sat me down like a 5 year old and walked me through questions and what people might expect, I might be able to make progress; but in an interview situation I am awful. I will take questions literally and not 'read between the lines' like what is expected, or just answer the question which is asked rather than attempt any complex psychological games. And other things like proactively making positive impressions and knowing what to wear (Fashion degrees are useless for unwritten codes like this and knowing what is 'appropriate' in varying situations). I hope this makes sense to someone!

But then again you never know, and hoping my enthusiasm through writing will show through in my cover letter.

 

[grapesicles]

slightly off topic but could it be that we are more understanding of others because of our own differculties.

Would like to think so! Or I definitely try to

 

[Warwick C]

It takes practice to write a CV Grapesicle, and we see things differently to others. As well as being to honest for our own good.

 

[wyverary]

I really despair here seeing people who have lost jobs due to some sort of misogyny/sexism going on. I remember one time, my boss used a derogatory term against one of his female employees, and SHE CHEWED HIM OUT OVER IT, as she should have. I think he relented because he realized it was one of those things even HR couldn't ignore (most HR departments are, in my opinion, useless, except for the most obvious of things). Then again, I work for a fairly large corporation which could not stand to have such a stain on the company, so maybe that played into it as well.

 

[AsheSkyler]

I really despair here seeing people who have lost jobs due to some sort of misogyny/sexism going on. I remember one time, my boss used a derogatory term against one of his female employees, and SHE CHEWED HIM OUT OVER IT, as she should have. I think he relented because he realized it was one of those things even HR couldn't ignore (most HR departments are, in my opinion, useless, except for the most obvious of things). Then again, I work for a fairly large corporation which could not stand to have such a stain on the company, so maybe that played into it as well.

Corporations make a very big difference, simply due to size and how many eyes are on them. If you have less than 15 employees, you're automatically off the federal court radar and they refuse to do anything. I looked, I wanted to have something done the first time. "Mom and Pop stores" can be a real pleasure to work at, but an equal amount of headache if you get a butthole.

 

[Jennifer T]

More and more I read on this forum, I keep wondering, not what's wrong with us... but what's wrong with the rest.

I'm all for getting people employed, but with people mentioning social problems for example, I feel that's it seriously lacking in support for people to get employed. It's starting to get silly.

There is no "act normal"... I'm not asking someone in a wheelchair to run a marathon either.

/mini-rant

"Normal" is more like crazy...lol!!! I'm the mom of an Aspie, who has symptoms herself. When I was growing up, nobody was tested for anything. I've worked with the public for years...might as well be day care for adults...grownups throwing tantrums. Wears me out My son is in 5th grade and recently diagnosed. I'm going to keep him away from retail and encourage his interests. He's brilliant and has so much to offer the world- way more than calming down 60 year olds b/c they can't get their way!!!

 

[geO]

I've been self employed and working in lawn care. I was hedging a customers shrubbery when my customer startled me and I attacked her with my hedger machine. The lady only was bringing me a bottle of water. I saw the look of terror on her face and I could not even talk with the lady. I then told my DR about this and he submitted to va some papers saying I have both ptsd and asd. I've not been to a customers house since.

 

[auslan434]

I haven't worked since 2002. I did part time work in sales for an intellectual disability organisation for a few years but, didn't enjoy it much. They treated the clients like little kids. There was a lot of fake ness from the staff. I'm on disability payments now.

 

[Bella Pines]

c) finding the motivation to work, especially when the task is mundane and d) constantly being around people, both in the office and in meetings and also being expected to socialise. Also f) not having any freedom. When I approach sensory overload I can't just get up and go somewhere quiet.

It does sometimes get really bad and I do have panic attacks and shutdowns, but now I see them coming and disappear off to cry quietly to myself in the toilets until the attack passes. I then clean myself up and put my oblivious NT smile back on.

I am much happier being left to my own devices, on my own and to follow my obsessions. However, I chose to have a family and so have obligations. Also I like buying stuff

Therefore I have a complex pattern of coping mechanisms including working from home and faking meetings so that I can sneak off somewhere quiet. I also wear large headphones and work from my laptop in the coffee area. I've also found that I can survive mundane tasks if I perform 5 of them simultaneously. Put together, with many MANY more coping mechanisms, they all work and now I'm typing this on a shiny new lenovo yoga 900

When the children are older and the mortgage is paid off, I fully intend to return to academia or quit the rat race to become an author or a photographer or maybe both...

 

[Mr Allen]

Officially I'm classed as unfit to work, I had to to get ESA about 18 months ago, despite the fact I've been doing voluntary work since I was 14, 27 years this month.

Been on disability benefits for years, but if I could I'd still get a part time (10 hours p/w or less) paid job to earn some extra spending money, but the so called "anti-discrimination" laws in the UK are a joke because the useless Tories would rather fund Terrorism than look after their own, especially the disabled and vulnerable.

I mean yeah OK there's "disabled specific" jobs like Remploy, Shaw Trust, Reclaim etc, but why work for 2 quid a day just cos all the clients are on benefits and can't earn much without sanctions?! It's quite frankly insulting IMO.

 

[Judge]

Officially I'm classed as unfit to work, I had to to get ESA about 18 months ago, despite the fact I've been doing voluntary work since I was 14, 27 years this month.

Been on disability benefits for years, but if I could I'd still get a part time (10 hours p/w or less) paid job to earn some extra spending money, but the so called "anti-discrimination" laws in the UK are a joke because the useless Tories would rather fund Terrorism than look after their own, especially the disabled and vulnerable.

There lies the real question IMO. If you've been "officially" classified as "unfit to work", what does that mean, and how does it apply regarding prospective employers of paying jobs?

Are you essentially being legally "blacklisted" in exchange for government entitlements, or is there an actual possibility of being legitimately employed part-time for a paying job?

Sounds like "Catch-22" though. That if prospective employers has access to the data that they're likely to turn you down no matter what excuse they choose to tell you personally. Not much different than the age discrimination I've faced.

More often than not, protection by civil laws only count if you are willing to litigate your case and you win in the eyes of the court. Otherwise such laws usually don't mean squat unless such infractions have been criminalized.

 

[Mr Allen]

There lies the real question IMO. If you've been "officially" classified as "unfit to work", what does that mean, and how does it apply regarding prospective employers of paying jobs?

Are you essentially being legally "blacklisted" in exchange for government entitlements, or is there an actual possibility of being legitimately employed part-time for a paying job?

Sounds like "Catch-22" though. That if prospective employers has access to the data that they're likely to turn you down no matter what excuse they choose to tell you personally. Not much different than the age discrimination I've faced.

More often than not, protection by civil laws only count if you are willing to litigate your case and you win in the eyes of the court. Otherwise such laws usually don't mean squat unless such infractions have been criminalized.

IMO, the fact I've spent the majority of the last 20 odd years doing voluntary, means I could work in SOME capacity, just not full time.

And not in some crap £2 a day "disabled specific" job designed to pay as little as possible so as not to hurt the clients' benefit entitlement.

 

[Judge]

IMO, the fact I've spent the majority of the last 20 odd years doing voluntary, means I could work in SOME capacity, just not full time.

And not in some crap £2 a day "disabled specific" job designed to pay as little as possible so as not to hurt the clients' benefit entitlement.

While there's a certain logic to that, none of it may matter if you are legally "blacklisted" because of official documentation citing you are unemployable. If so, having non-paying jobs over the years may be irrelevant to prospective employers that won't even bother with you based on your status as "unemployable".

In essence you need to see this from their perspective- not yours.

These are things you need to pursue with the authorities. Probably best to hear what an attorney has to say about it rather than any government bureaucrats- or whatever your father thinks. You need to find out where you really stand in all this rather than only guess and complain about it. Whatever the answer may be at least you can move on rather than continually going in circles over whether or not you can actually secure a paying job.