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recommend telling the boss?

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ker08
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16 Jul 2012, 1:48 pm

I'm curious if people here believe telling one's boss/management about an AS diagnosis is proper, or if it's better to keep that to yourself? Presumably they know something's different, but is it better to let them guess or give them a label?



Magnus_Rex
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16 Jul 2012, 1:55 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s[/youtube]

Unless it really affects your job, I do not think you should disclose it.



Atomsk
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16 Jul 2012, 1:58 pm

I think it's generally a good idea, and many people with AS or with autism disclose their diagnosis to their employer - but I would not do it during a job interview.

But, here's the main thing for me: what problems could occur with your AS that would make it a good idea to tell them?
Are there any accommodations you'll need?
What problems do you have from your AS that might create issues in the workplace that your boss should know about? (sort of a rephrasing of the first question I suppose)
etc.

Basically - just weigh the possible benefits of telling them with the possible risks of telling them. It would also be a good idea to have, in writing, a description of AS (particularly, your AS), with all your main symptoms/problems that you feel like disclosing.

But I don't think you should disclose it unless you really -need- to, as the above poster said.



JeremyNJ1984
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16 Jul 2012, 2:10 pm

Atomsk wrote:
I think it's generally a good idea, and many people with AS or with autism disclose their diagnosis to their employer - but I would not do it during a job interview.

But, here's the main thing for me: what problems could occur with your AS that would make it a good idea to tell them?
Are there any accommodations you'll need?
What problems do you have from your AS that might create issues in the workplace that your boss should know about? (sort of a rephrasing of the first question I suppose)
etc.

Basically - just weigh the possible benefits of telling them with the possible risks of telling them. It would also be a good idea to have, in writing, a description of AS (particularly, your AS), with all your main symptoms/problems that you feel like disclosing.

But I don't think you should disclose it unless you really -need- to, as the above poster said.



I dont mean to be rude but you basically contradicted yourself in your first and last sentences. To be fair, its really a tough choice...i'v had difficulties with disclosure and I prefer to tell people once when they get to know me on a more personal level. I also work for the Division of Developmental Disabilities so I have to weigh whether its proper to disclose and whether it would be awkard for co-workers because they serve our population. I have told a few case managers and they have been shocked. ( I am also shocked about how much they dont know about us). Its really a very difficult thing and it depends a lot on where you work and your position within the company as well.



Atomsk
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16 Jul 2012, 2:23 pm

JeremyNJ1984 wrote:
Atomsk wrote:
I think it's generally a good idea, and many people with AS or with autism disclose their diagnosis to their employer - but I would not do it during a job interview.

But, here's the main thing for me: what problems could occur with your AS that would make it a good idea to tell them?
Are there any accommodations you'll need?
What problems do you have from your AS that might create issues in the workplace that your boss should know about? (sort of a rephrasing of the first question I suppose)
etc.

Basically - just weigh the possible benefits of telling them with the possible risks of telling them. It would also be a good idea to have, in writing, a description of AS (particularly, your AS), with all your main symptoms/problems that you feel like disclosing.

But I don't think you should disclose it unless you really -need- to, as the above poster said.


I dont mean to be rude but you basically contradicted yourself in your first and last sentences.


I suppose it does seem contradictory - but what I meant was that it's a good idea, when it is felt that it is needed. You took my first sentence out of context of my entire post. I'm not offended. Just a misunderstanding.



ker08
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16 Jul 2012, 2:34 pm

Ok, thanks everyone...I'll have to give it some more thought then. Maybe I'll talk to my union rep first and see what they think. I believe my boss has to keep medical info secret, that's the main thing I'm worried about. He is very nice but I can tell some of what I say/do makes him uncomfortable. I'm not sure exactly what of course, I can just tell he stiffens up a bit around me whereas he doesn't with other coworkers. My profession has a lot of Aspie's though, so perhaps he's already guessed my issue and hasn't brought it up.



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16 Jul 2012, 3:16 pm

By the way, I worked for three different companies until now (an accounting office, a supermarket and a bank). In every one of my jobs, my bosses and coworkers thought I was a little weird. Regardless, I always did a good job, and my quirks did not affect my performance on the job.

Conclusion: they liked my work, despite my weirdness. I never felt the need to justify my actions (in fact, until my second job, I did not even suspect I had Asperger's syndrome: I only knew I was different). In all of them, my superiors wanted to keep me on the job, but I had my reasons to move on to the next (better wages on the supermarket, better oportunities on the bank).



Woods93
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16 Jul 2012, 3:42 pm

You should probably tell your boss, I did! My boss is really supportive of me and it's always better to be upfront with people. If you get any hastle from your boss because of your aspergers then I certainly wouldn't want to work with somebody like that anyway.



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16 Jul 2012, 4:14 pm

Magnus_Rex wrote:
By the way, I worked for three different companies until now (an accounting office, a supermarket and a bank). In every one of my jobs, my bosses and coworkers thought I was a little weird. Regardless, I always did a good job, and my quirks did not affect my performance on the job.

Conclusion: they liked my work, despite my weirdness. I never felt the need to justify my actions (in fact, until my second job, I did not even suspect I had Asperger's syndrome: I only knew I was different). In all of them, my superiors wanted to keep me on the job, but I had my reasons to move on to the next (better wages on the supermarket, better oportunities on the bank).


Definitely the above. I don't think I would want to disclose unless I absolutely had to as I don't think it would benefit me at all and would almost certainly damage my career prospects



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16 Jul 2012, 4:22 pm

ker08 wrote:
Ok, thanks everyone...I'll have to give it some more thought then. Maybe I'll talk to my union rep first and see what they think. I believe my boss has to keep medical info secret, that's the main thing I'm worried about. He is very nice but I can tell some of what I say/do makes him uncomfortable. I'm not sure exactly what of course, I can just tell he stiffens up a bit around me whereas he doesn't with other coworkers. My profession has a lot of Aspie's though, so perhaps he's already guessed my issue and hasn't brought it up.


Your profile says you're Not sure if you have it or not, so I'm guessing you don't have a diagnosis. Given this I wouldn't recommend telling your boss you have AS. If you need accommodations describe your difficulties but don't mention a diagnosis you don't have. If you don't need accommodations there is no need to disclose.

I did disclose to my boss even though I was under no obligation. This was in the context of helping him to understand the reasons for some of the recommendations made by Occupational Health during my (continuing) return to work after four months off work sick with stress. He has been generally supportive.


_________________
Female. Dx ASD in 2011 @ Age 38. Also Dx BPD


MightyMorphin
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16 Jul 2012, 4:52 pm

Simple answer, just don't tell them unless it will effect your job (like working on checkouts in a supermarket where you have to talk to customers etc)