It feels like everyone is talking about neurodiversity these days. The aftermath of the global pandemic has definitely thrust mental health to the forefront of a lot of conversations. And there are increasing numbers of people getting a neurodivergent diagnosis both in schools and out in the adult world. This means that companies across British Columbia will see an increase in the number of autistic workers. And job applicants in the coming years, which in turn means that they need to start being proactive about working with neurodivergence on a daily basis.
Why Hire Autistic Workers
It’s worth noting that some of the biggest corporations out there have already started getting a competitive edge with neurodivergence. Microsoft, SAP, and JP Morgan Chase are just some of the big names that have set up dedicated autism hiring teams in recent years. And they are already reaping the rewards. Some of the benefits of hiring autistic workers include:
- Higher productivity. – While it’s true that no two autistic people will present with exactly the same traits, there are some common hallmarks of the condition. One of these is the ability to maintain concentration and focus on a series of tasks for a long period of time. This is extended when these tasks are ones that play into the specific interests of the autistic worker. As an employer, you’ll see higher levels of productivity coming from their department. As a result of this concentration, this will be driven even higher when your neurotypical workers try to keep pace.
- A new way of seeing things. – Another trait that many autistic workers share is a different way of perceiving and understanding the world. In the workplace, this means that they will be able to see new solutions to existing problems and find ways to streamline processes. You’ll be amazed at the changes that they are able to make when your team learns to trust their communication style and honest feedback.
- Improved communications – finally, you’ll also see some company-wide benefits when you hire an autistic person. One of the biggest differences you’ll see will be a decrease in miscommunication and gossip across all teams. This is because most autistic workers struggle with abstract languages such as sarcasm, idioms, and metaphors. This forces people communicating with them to be more earnest and concrete as they speak, which will translate across the whole company in time.
Using A Placement Agency
With all of these benefits of recruiting employees on the autism spectrum. It can seem strange that not more Vancouver-based companies are taking advantage of this untapped talent pool. However, it can be hard to find and recruit high-quality autistic talent. Which is when you want to team up with the best talent placement agency Vancouver has to offer. Here at Focus, we believe that title belongs to us. And we can help your recruitment team with the necessary changes to the hiring process to get the autistic competitive edge.
Our team of recruitment experts knows all the right message boards, newspapers, and in-person locations to advertise. We also know how to take your job description and write it out in a way that will invite autistic jobseekers to consider applying.
Secondly, there is a big difference between a neurotypical person and a neurodivergent person being ready for the workplace. The latter often need training not just in the specific fields that they’re applying for. But they’ll also need help learning how to cope in a world specifically designed for neurotypical brains. Our employment readiness training helps them learn key skills. New skills like organization, prioritizing and accepting feedback. Meaning that they’ll be more ready to hit the ground running on day one.
Finally, the typical face-to-face interview process has many flaws. The Focus team can work with you to devise fairer hiring practices like task-based or group-based tasks which will allow all individuals to show you what they are capable of.
It’s clear to see that Focus is the best talent placement agency for Vancouver businesses looking to tap into the vast pool of high-quality autistic candidates, so call us today to start your journey towards neurodiversity in the workplace.
