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Social challenges in the workplace - Author-Accepted Version JADD.pdf (318.17 kB)

Workplace Social Challenges Experienced by Employees on the Autism Spectrum: An International Exploratory Study Examining Employee and Supervisor Perspectives

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journal contribution
posted on 2020-10-15, 01:32 authored by Simon BurySimon Bury, Rebecca FlowerRebecca Flower, Rosslynn Zulla, David B Nicholas, Darren HedleyDarren Hedley
Social challenges represent a significantly under-researched area when it comes to the poor employment outcomes in autism. In this exploratory study employees on the autism spectrum (N = 29) and supervisors (N = 15), representing seven continents, provided 128 written examples of workplace-based social challenges, their interpretation, consequences and resolution. Content analysis revealed that types of social challenges were individually oriented or associated with the work-environment. Social challenges were frequently attributed to internal or personal factors with direct consequences for the employee. Resolutions were more frequently targeted toward the individual than the workplace, and hindered employees’ experience of work. This international study represents a first look at the types of social challenges that impact equitable work participation of autistic people.

Funding

La Trobe University School of Psychology and Public Health Income Growth Grant Scheme

La Trobe University Building Health Communities Research Focus Area Collaboration Ready Grant #2000004415

Vocational Abilities Innovation Lab at the University of Calgary received funding from the Sinneave Family Foundation

History

School

  • School of Psychology and Public Health

Publication Date

2020-08-18

Journal

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Pagination

14

Publisher

Springer Nature

ISSN

0162-3257

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