The good thing is - we notice everything 

As employees with ADHD or AuDHD, our senses are finely honed. We notice everything – which is why we’re great at our jobs. We pick up things others miss. We’re the people who will dive deep into the things we are passionate about.

We have amazing pattern recognition and memory. We’re problem solvers. We work hard and fast and organisations are full of us.

The problem is - we notice everything 

The flip side of this is, we are taking in everything from every which way at once. Our highly tuned senses mean light comes in brighter, sounds are louder and more intense, touch, when you’re not expecting it, can feel like an electric shock. Our emotions literally feel bigger. The te reo Māori definition of ADHD, aroreretini - 'attention goes to many things', fits particularly well here. Open plan offices, noisy printers, colleagues asking questions you know the answer to, all conspire to pull our attention from our mahi. 

We can (and do) make these situations work, but without the appropriate accommodations, it can be incredibly draining.

How employers can support neurodivergent employees

It is worth putting in the effort to support neurodivergent staff. When we’re on top of our game we can do things many can’t. We work hard and fast and are fiercely loyal when we feel supported and engaged.

Accomodations for neurodivergent employees can be deceptively simple - noise cancelling headphones and fidgets in the office, a modified schedule that allows us to work from home when we need to concentrate without distractions. Support around planning and not saying yes to everything everyone asks, recording meetings so we can listen afterwards and take in what we may have missed. Simple accommodations like these benefit employees, employers, and organisations in the long run.

Below are some resources to help understand the neurodivergent workplace experience and tips to support ADHD employees: