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“No One Sees the Effort”: The Hidden Cost of Identity Management for Neurodivergent Staff

The term “neurodivergent” (ND), refers to having a cognitive profile or presentation that differs from normative expectations. It is estimated that between 15 to 20 per cent of the global population are neurodivergent.

(ND) individuals, including autistic, dyslexic and ADHDers, can offer unique skills and perspectives in the workplace. However, many face challenges in finding and sustaining employment. Autistic employees may encounter communication challenges in social interactions such as job interviews and team meetings. ADHDers can struggle with time management, participating in meetings and sustaining their attention on tasks. ND individuals also face hidden, systemic barriers to employment and career progression. Barriers can reside in the beliefs and behaviours of colleagues in the form of stereotyping, stigma and discrimination.

ND individuals, navigating both visible and invisible challenges in the workplace, must decide whether to disclose or conceal their conditions. The literature indicates that ND individuals perform a range of identity management strategies in the workplace. Those who choose to selectively disclose or actively conceal, may employ masking.

Neurodiversity in the workplace has gained increased attention in the last decade, although it remains an under researched and nuanced area. There is limited understanding of how workplace factors such as culture, systems and work practices influence disclosure and how identity management impacts wellbeing. This study contributes to our understanding of the lived experiences of ND individuals in contemporary work environments.

Presentation to include preliminary findings from 18 in depth interviews and the trends in available literature on workplace disclosure.

Presenters

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Aron Mercer

Adjunct Industry Fellow | PhD Candidate | Griffith University , Griffith University

Aron Mercer (he/him) is a PhD candidate at Griffith University, social entrepreneur, and neurodiversity expert. He is the author of Untapped Talent (2024). He has over 25 years of experience across corporate leadership, non-profits, and social enterprise. Aron is passionate about blending profit with purpose and has founded and advised several social enterprise startups.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 12 and living with hearing loss from a childhood accident, Aron understands the systemic and intersecting barriers people with disabilities face in employment and is determined to dismantle them. Aron was part of the founding team of Xceptional, now Xceptional Academy, a leader in inclusive recruitment. He helped grow the organisation from concept to national impact. This unique work has been recognised by the $1m Google.org Impact Challenge award.

His current PhD research explores how organisational factors and the employee lifecycle infulence disclosure decisions of neurodivergent employees. Aron holds degrees from Macquarie University and Swinburne, with executive education from Stanford and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).