Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist

Welcome to Tackle It Tuesday, a social media series where an autistic employee at AAoM (yours truly) writes workplace tips to better cope with the stresses of a working world not built for neurodiversity.

While creating the latest entry for AAoM’s social platforms, I realized that social media alone isn’t the ideal archive for all the past Tackle It Tuesday entries, as it shares space with all the other important work AAoM does. So, this blog companion was born!


This Tackle it Tuesday is something different: an employer wishlist from an employee.

An image with a green background. In the center of the image is stick figures of various shapes and sizes, all with different shapes behind the autism infinity symbol.

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Every autistic and neurodivergent person is different.
But as an employer, there are things you can do to make the workplace accommodating for many neurotypes!"

An image with a green background. The right side of the image has two grey figures talking. One is wearing a suit and has a speech bubble above him. The speech bubble has the numbers 1, 2, and 3 in order to represent clear instruction.
The other figure is nodding along in understanding.

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Explain workplace rules and expectations in common-sense terms.
Don’t be afraid of employees asking why certain things are how they are."

An image with a green background. At the bottom of the image is a grey figure in a blue shirt. One is listening with headphones, one is reading from a paper, and one is writing on a paper labeled "document". 

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Ask your employee how they learn best. Sometimes it’s a written agenda, something else, or a combination of multiple learning styles."

An image with a green background. At the bottom of the image is two figures. One has a blue shirt and red bullet points, and one has a green shirt and blue bullet points.

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Reward your employee based on work done rather than social metrics. 
Some employees are great socializers, and others are great at quiet work. 
Reward both!"

An image with a green background. At the bottom of the image is a figure on a laptop. On the left on the bottom of the image, there is a computer pop-up. It says "New Work Event! 2 weeks from now!"

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Give as much notice when changes happen as possible!"

An image with a green background. At the bottom of the image is a fluorescent light with a x on it, headphones, a cubicle with walls, and a cooler. It has "Cooler (unofficial quiet room).

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
Give accommodations for sensory needs where reasonable
(Quiet areas to work/relax, lighting changes, etc.)"

An image with a green background. At the bottom of the image is a work building (a grey skyscraper) with two arrows connecting to home and a restaurant.

The text reads: "Tackle it Tuesday: Employer Wishlist
If an employee doesn’t make it to frequent after-work social events or doesn’t socialize as much in the workplace, don’t pressure them about it. 
Even “playful jokes” about this can be hurtful."

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