Prospect Survey suggests that employers should provide better support for neurodiverse tech workers

A recent survey conducted by Prospect, a UK trade union, highlights the experiences of neurodiverse workers in the tech sector. Their main findings reveal that:

• Only 25% of tech employers have explicit policies to support employees with neurodivergent conditions;
• Over a third of respondents reported experiencing discrimination relating to their neurodivergent condition;
• 80% of respondents had been confronted with difficulty at work because of their condition;
• Almost 75% of respondents had no knowledge about any policies their employer had which support neurodiverse workers;
•  Despite reasonable adjustment requests for neurodivergent conditions typically being accepted, a significant number of workers hesitate to make such requests;
• Less than one-third of respondents reported formally requesting adjustments;
• Over half of respondents who had notified their employer of their condition had received a supportive response from their employer; and
• 85% of respondents revealed that they find themselves “masking” their condition at work to appear neuro-typical.

This survey has highlighted the barriers that neuro-divergent tech workers have faced and the lack of policies within the workplace regarding their condition. Prospect will be using the results from this survey to campaign for better conditions in the workplace for neurodivergent employees.