With awareness of neurodiversity rising exponentially, the need for adequate support and inclusion in the workplace is becoming increasingly important. The 2023 study by Piper Hutson and James Hutson, explores the impact of biopsychosocial approaches aiming to improve neurodiversity and inclusion at work. Are we missing out by not adequately supporting neurodiverse teams?
Study Overview of Neurodiversity and Inclusivity in the Workplace
The study explores the impact of neurodivergence upon a person’s working life; uncovering how communication styles, environmental factors, and more, can hinder their performance. The intriguing findings of this study reveal how harnessing neurodiversity inclusion offers a wealth of benefits to the entire team.
Key Findings of the Neurodiversity and Inclusivity in the Workplace
- Under the right conditions, neurodivergent employees are not only more motivated but also more productive than their neurotypical counterparts. Moreover, when given proper support, they can significantly enhance workplace performance.
- Implementing biopsychosocial strategies helps to decrease neurodivergent employee turnover and improve neurodiversity inclusivity.
- Improving the support and neurodiversity inclusivity of employees lowers defect rates and increases productivity; offering improved sales, services, and products.
- Having policies in place to avoid unnecessary and ambiguous communication results in an overall improvement in communication for all employees.
- Through their involvement in these programs, neurotypical employees have reported improvements in their morale, and find their work becomes more meaningful.
Implications for Organisations
This study offers valuable suggestions for organisations:
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- Failure to fully support and include neurodivergent individuals ultimately hinders the workplace.
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- Through improved understanding of communication differences, the whole team benefits from more effective and efficient interpersonal communication.
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- Neurodiversity support and inclusion is vital in retaining neurodivergent staff members.
- Fully supported and included neurodivergent employees provide competitive advantages within the workplace.
- Neurodiversity support and inclusion is vital in retaining neurodivergent staff members.
This study offers an unique perspective on neurodiversity inclusion in the workplace, highlighting the wealth of benefits a properly supported and included neurodiverse team can offer. As understanding of neurodiversity inclusion continues to grow, workplaces bear the responsibility of adapting to truly accommodate their neurodiverse teams.
A particularly significant finding from this study is the positive impact of neurodiversity inclusion programs on the neurotypical employee population. We were delighted to see how these initiatives enhanced the overall work experience for neurotypicals. At NeuroBridge, our passion lies in improving neurodiversity inclusion support in the workplace for the benefit of the entire team, not just those directly impacted.
We would love to hear your thoughts! Is your workplace a truly supportive and inclusive environment for neurodivergent team members?
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Resources
Harmon, C., & Zhang, M. (2023). Neurodiversity and inclusivity in the workplace: Biopsychosocial interventions for promoting competitive advantage. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372015769_Neurodiversity_and_Inclusivity_in_the_Workplace_Biopsychosocial_Interventions_for_Promoting_Competitive_Advantage
