Who is "out of the closet" at work?

Post Reply New Topic

I get along with most people at work, but there always seems to be one who has it out for me. I have a great deal of difficulty dealing with negativity, and so I generally just move on. I did come out of the closet at one job, but it back fired. My confidants gossiped about me behind my back. My contract was not renued even though I had great verbal feedback from admin and my immediate supervisory wrote a wonderful letter of rec.

Have you had better/worse experiences letting people know?

Actually, there are some people who some might regard as *disabled* at my new office. One professional has significant "deaf speech" and I think there is at least one other aspie. The couldbie-aspie was reminded to give eye contact by our boss, and there might be others. It is the most accepting work site yet....

Outed myself, but I work with one other person, and we get along well enough. Not an issue.

I told my supervisor's boss. It was just a name to my oddities for him. No one else knows or suspects... They think I'm just unique/weird/crazy/funny.

Turns out that my boss is an aspie, and everyone in the office thinks she's terribly high maintanance, and are always complaining about her behind her back. Throw in a touch of OCD, and they have a point... if they realise I'm another "nutter" then I'll be in the same boat as she is!

They know I am female. They know I am short. They know I am Australian. They know I am Autistic. It is not an issue for me. It is for some people I work with. The person I am would be an issue for them even if they did not know why I think differently but for other people, the explanation makes a positive difference.

I've been burnt so many times that I'll remain in the closet until I have enough f**k you money that will allow me to be self-employed.

I tell people that I work closely with so they can adapt to my communication style as I try to adapt to theirs. I told the HR guy just in case there was a misunderstanding. I didn't mention the condition during the interview. However, I did mention things associated with it good and bad. Detail oriented, bad with time, work independently, innovative problem solver.

That way they could make a decision on my skills, and who I was not what I was.

I help run a venue where we have occasional aspie meetings which we post on our calendar...so being closeted isn't exactly an issue...I sometimes wish I could gracefully let some of my customers know at times when I am totally sensory-overloaded and at the end of my rope and therefore not very friendly...Just so they don't take it so personally...

My last job was as a computer technician at the school I went to for 7 years, so any teacher who used to teach me and was still there knew. I also told my immediate team.

If asked about disabilities on an application form, I tell the truth, but I don't put it in a CV or covering letter.