The Reorg means we will all be judged on our "people sk

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I am having a rough week. We had a staff meeting today saying that in the new structure we are going to be evaluated regularly on our people skills.

I am already finding the constant reorganizations and changes of the last few years hard to cope with. I am not a great people person. I don't have those skills.

My executive function problems have increased because of all that stress. I need to take meds to keep my anxiety under control and when I get very tired and very stressed my sensory issues kick in powerfully. The lights bother me, the odors bother me and the sounds bother me--and it's hard to work.

My only hope is that HR will find a way to cut me some slack, because they know about my diagnosis.

I went through something similar. They judged me, it was awful, and I believed them. In the end I can't say I've recovered from that stress, but I think you're right about HR. If you bring something of value to your organization, people may want to play with you for being different, to try to get you to conform but if they come face to face with the reality you are not intentionally setting out to be different, but just are, it's possible they may take the real things you bring your organization over the illusion you can be shaped into being someone else.

I know that's not a lot of comfort, but the politics that happen in a group of people are extremely stressful to get through. Focusing on doing what I am good at and asking questions, discretely, about the things I'm not is the only way I know to proceed.

People say we have to be very good at some aspect of our job to be accepted despite the social discomfort we sometimes cause others. I don't trust that's permanent, but I do think it's true that if you bring enough in, people will overlook or help you through some of the politics, some of the time. So that's all I can suggest---focus on what you bring to your organization, and what you want to bring. If they need more they can get rid of whoever they want. But when people recognize you're giving all you have, then sometimes, they stop pushing for more.

You have a formal diagnosis; so don't worry too much.
There are things you can do to show that you are making an efforf even if you have poor people skills.
If you're worried about your people skills I recommend that you join Toastmasters.
http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub/
I still have 'people skills' issues at work with very few (totally irrational and idiotic people) but FEW people there can claim that they've been working on it for 10 years.
I've improved a lot. You can too.

If you have a formal diagnosis, I'd have an attorney on stand-by to ensure you aren't mistreated by HR on the new evaluation standards. If they are going to focus on people skills, you are at a definite disadvantage, and it is inherently discriminatory if your placement, chances for retention or promotion, etc. will be based on something hampered by your disability.

They should know better, but it's so easy to get rid of someone and basically lie about why they are getting rid of you. Worse, they could put you in one situation after another and wait for you to fail to obtain the justification they want to get rid of you because you don't fit the new office paradigm.

Hate to be a Debbie Downer http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Debbie_Downer but the company culture/atmosphere that you thrived in all these years has deterioited and all the indications are it is going to get worse. I would do those things. Contact a disability rights lawyer and start updating your resume. If the company lets you go and you file a discrimination suit they will probably claim it is not discrimination because people skills are now job requirements because of social media etc.. How that will work out I don't know that is why you need an expert. If you have people that you trust let them know what is going on. One reason is to emotionally prepare them and two they may know of a job opening. Most employers would rather hire a person who is employed then unemployed. Completely wrong in my view but that is how it is.

As mentioned before if they like you and you really contribute they will find a way to keep you. As ASD we think everybody strictly follows guidelines but NT's do not work that way. After 20 years you may be better at people skills then you think you are. By definition we often do not understand how others view us.

As the cliche says prepare for the worst and hope for the best. ASD people tend to stay in bad relationships too long. Employer employee is a relationship just as much as romantic relationships are.

Good luck

I think I remember Adamantium does IT work. Do people see having a niche like that as offering any protection?