total-recoil
Well-Known Member
Sorry I've been missing for some time and I miss posting as often.
I've had a rough ride trying to adapt to a new job where the environment is pretty unusual as I will explain in time. Basically I work in a large distribution factory although the work comes through an agency so hard to say how long it will endure. I already discovered staff turn-over is very high and how often you work seems to depend upon how good you are, time-keeping and if your face fits and so on.
I want to share that the biggest aid to someone with aspergers who starts regular employment is an understanding of aspergers symptoms, how it is perceived by others and the motor sklls issue. As most of my work involved packing, loading and tagging I struggled enormously with speed and manual dexterity. Put simply I often found I was working more slowly than others and that this was noticed. Also my clumsiness in general. These were issues I had to try and deal with myself as there is no awareness at work of my aspergers and it's not really the kind of understanding environment where I'd be accommodated.
Here is how I've attempted to deal with the situation and this may help some of you:
(1)Make sure first of all time-keeping is good and that you don't mess about, chat or seem disinterested. Arrive on time. At least it shows a good attitude.
(2)If someone attempts to bully you for being slow, don't get phased or angry but be aware aspergers does affect motor skills and give yourself time to speed up. This has worked for me and now I'm reasonably quick at my work now. I decided it's better to get into bother for being slow than to rush and make a mess of the job (which leaves you in a bad situation).
(3) Aerobic based training such as cycling or running is good for aspies so I dropped off weights and started to ride hard on the bike a la Lance Armstrong. Hard riding up hills and so on releases dopamine and serotonin into the brain and these act both as anti depressants but also stimulants to kick start your body mobility.
(4) Most important, be prepared to experience negative feedback. I was sent home twice for being too slow and the other day the boxes I packed were searched for mistakes although glad to say no mistakes were found and I get left more in peace now.
The good news is I'm making money and surprisingly have made friends. I'm actually quite popular with certain people and especially I suspect I'm liked because I help out immigrant workers, sit with them and befriend all those who appear to be O.K. One friend is actually from Afghanistan and not at all what you would imagine as an Afghan to be like (no religious rants or beards). Quite shy, in fact, very polite and struggling with English. Tells me he speaks Farsi. The majority of indigenous workers don't mix with these people but I tend to judge each individual on a personal basis and not stereotype.
I also have a Chinese female friend who seems to cling to me. She's really cool and writes poems and studies languages.
By the way management isn't at all good. The immigrant workers are sometimes yelled at or exploited. They get paid O.K. but there is a lack of basic manners in management which I find unprofessional. Little wonder so many mistakes get made and language barriers may be an issue.
Anyway for now I'm still employed and not sure for how long it will be. Maybe it will end after Christmas or maybe it will last a while. It's a far way from being employed in a decent career but at least I've learned a bit about dealing with issues and an aspie and this is the first time I had a strategy.
I've had a rough ride trying to adapt to a new job where the environment is pretty unusual as I will explain in time. Basically I work in a large distribution factory although the work comes through an agency so hard to say how long it will endure. I already discovered staff turn-over is very high and how often you work seems to depend upon how good you are, time-keeping and if your face fits and so on.
I want to share that the biggest aid to someone with aspergers who starts regular employment is an understanding of aspergers symptoms, how it is perceived by others and the motor sklls issue. As most of my work involved packing, loading and tagging I struggled enormously with speed and manual dexterity. Put simply I often found I was working more slowly than others and that this was noticed. Also my clumsiness in general. These were issues I had to try and deal with myself as there is no awareness at work of my aspergers and it's not really the kind of understanding environment where I'd be accommodated.
Here is how I've attempted to deal with the situation and this may help some of you:
(1)Make sure first of all time-keeping is good and that you don't mess about, chat or seem disinterested. Arrive on time. At least it shows a good attitude.
(2)If someone attempts to bully you for being slow, don't get phased or angry but be aware aspergers does affect motor skills and give yourself time to speed up. This has worked for me and now I'm reasonably quick at my work now. I decided it's better to get into bother for being slow than to rush and make a mess of the job (which leaves you in a bad situation).
(3) Aerobic based training such as cycling or running is good for aspies so I dropped off weights and started to ride hard on the bike a la Lance Armstrong. Hard riding up hills and so on releases dopamine and serotonin into the brain and these act both as anti depressants but also stimulants to kick start your body mobility.
(4) Most important, be prepared to experience negative feedback. I was sent home twice for being too slow and the other day the boxes I packed were searched for mistakes although glad to say no mistakes were found and I get left more in peace now.
The good news is I'm making money and surprisingly have made friends. I'm actually quite popular with certain people and especially I suspect I'm liked because I help out immigrant workers, sit with them and befriend all those who appear to be O.K. One friend is actually from Afghanistan and not at all what you would imagine as an Afghan to be like (no religious rants or beards). Quite shy, in fact, very polite and struggling with English. Tells me he speaks Farsi. The majority of indigenous workers don't mix with these people but I tend to judge each individual on a personal basis and not stereotype.
I also have a Chinese female friend who seems to cling to me. She's really cool and writes poems and studies languages.
By the way management isn't at all good. The immigrant workers are sometimes yelled at or exploited. They get paid O.K. but there is a lack of basic manners in management which I find unprofessional. Little wonder so many mistakes get made and language barriers may be an issue.
Anyway for now I'm still employed and not sure for how long it will be. Maybe it will end after Christmas or maybe it will last a while. It's a far way from being employed in a decent career but at least I've learned a bit about dealing with issues and an aspie and this is the first time I had a strategy.
