6 Ways Companies Could Be Exploiting Employees on the Autism Spectrum
Elizabeth Morey
It has always been difficult for people on the autism spectrum to find meaningful employment, or even any employment at all. Only around 14 percent of autistic adults in the United States held jobs in 2015, and even those who do find jobs usually make minimum wage doing work that requires little to no skill, such as pushing carts at a grocery store. It's no secret that people on the autism spectrum are underemployed, largely because their differing abilities are underappreciated.
So when we hear about technology companies and other organizations aiming to hire people with autism, we can't help but think it's a good thing, a win-win. The company gets to utilize the "untapped potential" of the autistic person, and, in return, that person gains employment, earns a better wage than they could have before, gets to do something they find interesting, and uses more of their talents. Having meaningful employment makes the person feel needed, helps them learn new social skills, and may even lead to making friends with colleagues with similar interest.
However, the push for businesses to hire people with autism might have a negative side too. There are certainly companies out there who simply want to hire good workers and avoid discriminating against people with autism and developmental disabilities. When these organizations talk about "untapped potential," they just mean that autistic people are often misunderstood but can be valuable members of a work team if properly trained. But there are also those companies who mean something a little different when they talk about "untapped potential," something a little less upstanding.
Here are some of the ways in which an employer might take advantage of an employee or prospective employee with autism. If you or someone you know has autism and is in the workforce, watch out for signs that some of these forms of exploitation may be happening.
1. Unfair hiring processes
Becuase people with autism often have a difficult time with social situations, some employers have switched from standard interviews to a modified interview system that requires a prospective employee to complete a task rather than answer a series of questions. That's all well and good if it helps people with autism get good jobs and eliminates hiring discrimination, but there may be more to the story than meets the eye.
Particularly for technology and engineering jobs, hiring processes for people with autism can take weeks and involve many hours' worth of work. Free work. Whether or not the prospective employee gets the job, the employer still has the opportunity to get free labor out of the deal. It's quite possible that some of these companies are taking advantage of the situation and presenting bigger and more difficult projects than necessary to applicants.
2. Low wages
One huge incentive for companies to hire people with ASD is the possibility of spending less money on hourly wages. Employers know that people with autism often have difficulty finding work in their desired career field, or even any job at all. Some companies prey on this desperation by offering rock-bottom wages to job applicants with autism. This may also translate to lower-than-average raises later on down the line.
Click "next" below to see more ways people with ASD are being exploited in the workplace.
3. Unpaid overtime
It's easy for the boss to ask a person with autism to work unpaid overtime for a few reasons. For starters, most people with autism have little work experience, leaving them clueless as to whether or not the situation is "normal" or one of exploitation. People with autism may also take great pride in their work, leading them to do the best job they can by any means necessary—even when it comes at the cost of their non-work lives. Some people with autism also lack social lives outside of work and so are happy to continue working.
4. Pressure to turn on the "magic"
Sadly, the general public still lacks a full understanding of autism, and many people assume everyone with autism is similar to the characters with autism they've seen portrayed in the movies. Since these characters usually have trouble with social interaction but are also brilliant savants, there can be pressure in the workplace for autistic employees to have some sort of magical quality to them.
Click "next" below to see more ways people with ASD are being exploited in the workplace.
5. Workplace Harassment and Discrimination
The pressure to be able to solve difficult math problems in their head or memorize a photograph is the least of an autistic person's worries if they're being outright bullied or discriminated against in the workplace. They may be fired or turned down for promotions or other opportunities because of their disorder, or they may find that colleagues mock or exclude them. These forms of harassment and discrimination may be blunt and easy to find, such as rude remarks, jokes, rumors, and even physical abuse. Or they may be more subtle, such as overbearing supervision, constant critiques of the person's work, and unfairly difficult deadlines.
6. Other forms of exploitation
When an employee has limited work experience and limited understanding of social nuances, there's no telling what other forms exploitation in the workplace may take.
More than a third of autistic adults report being bullied or discriminated against at work, and over 40 percent have left or lost their job due to autism-related discrimination.
If you believe a company has been exploiting you or someone you know who has autism, don't hesitate to speak up. Everyone on this planet has value and deserves to be treated fairly.
Have you experienced workplace discrimination or exploitation because of autism? We want to hear your story in the comments!
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