Neurodiversity in the workplace

This article is written by our partners at Law Express

The term ‘neurodivergent’ was first used over twenty years ago to describe the way everyone’s brains work differently. Neurodivergent people are those who think, process, perceive and interpret
the world around them differently to ‘neurotypical people’ i.e. those who think and behave in a way that it considered by society as ‘normal’.

Neurodiverse conditions can include:
• ADHD
• Autism
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Tourette’s Syndrome

Upwards of 15% of people in the UK are neurodivergent and so there is a high likelihood at least one or more of the staff that make up any workforce are neurodivergent. Very often neurodiverse conditions are not obvious and frequently undisclosed by employees. For this reason, they are often referred to as unseen or
silent conditions.

Employers can frequently feel that creating a neurodiverse workspace and employing those who may have a different way of working can be challenging. In approaching this, there are common
factors which apply when dealing with existing and potential employees.