Could My Co-Worker be Autistic?

Have you ever had that one coworker who just didn’t jive with the group? The one who didn’t want to go to lunch their first month and so finally everyone stopped asking? The one who wouldn’t return the pleasantries each morning and offered a cold shoulder instead? 

While the job site is always an interesting melting pot of personalities, if you don’t know how to spot autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you might unwittingly be misreading the cues and taking away the wrong messaging. So before you decide that your coworker doesn’t deserve to be counted amongst your friends, consider these common characteristics of adults with autism. *Note: each person presents differently and these are generalities.

• People on the spectrum often struggle to make eye contact. This does not mean they are untrustworthy, uncaring, or uninterested. They often report being able to process information much easier when eye contact is not involved. 

• People on the spectrum often dislike small talk. This is not the same as disliking the person. While many have been taught to engage in order to appease the other person, isn’t it our turn to consider that this might be highly uncomfortable for the other party?

• Autistic people often need downtime to regulate after social situations. Loud lunches and after-work get-togethers could be moments that are incredibly overwhelming after being in a work community all day long.

• Autistic people often thrive on direct messaging that is counterintuitive to many who are not on the spectrum. This can create unnecessary frustration on both parts and accommodating this difference might tip the scales to a wonderful relationship. 

In a world where everyone jumps to conclusions and apologies later, maybe it is time to wonder: could my coworker be on the spectrum and is there some part I can play to make that relationship stronger? Always remember, autism does not mean that the person does not want a relationship.