Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace
Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent and in the UK, between 15% to 20% of the workforce is estimated to be neurodivergent. At a fundamental level, if someone is neurodivergent it means that their brain functions, learns and processes information in different ways to other people.
Why is supporting neurodivergent employees important?
Leading businesses are transforming to ensure greater inclusivity for their employees, as part of this shift, employers must think beyond gender and race when designing their DEI strategies.
With between 15 and 20% of UK employees estimated to be neurodivergent, it is imperative that the right wellbeing support is in place to ensure strong employee engagement as well as higher productivity.
Organisations need to move away from a traditional approach led by clinical diagnosis and labelling, and instead create an inclusive culture in which all people can thrive, including neurodivergent individuals.
DEI is becoming an ever-increasing part of a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, and with increasing pressure from employees, investors and regulators, it must remain a strong focus for people leaders.
Neurodiversity in the workplace training
We have worked in partnership with leading neurodiversity specialists from Health Management Limited (HML) to build a programme designed to improve awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace. This programme gives employers the tools they need to ensure neurodivergent employees are supported in their organisations.
The programme includes impactful and jargon free pre-recorded educational videos, accessible to all audiences, with accompanying guidance documents to support employers to build greater awareness of neurodiversity alongside practical advice on how to support neurodivergent employees.
Our health consultants and DEI specialists within Mercer have worked collaboratively to provide holistic consulting support to employers seeking out a more inclusive and neurodiverse workforce.
A range of assessments and services can also be accessed via our preferred provider solution.
Our Neurodiversity in the Workplace training videos are a great place to start to raise awareness of this topic in your organisation.
FAQ’s
Key pillars of holistic neurodiversity support
-
Diagnoses and assessments
- Do you have end-to-end support for neurodivergent diagnoses and assessments?
- How inclusive is it?
- Is it affordable?
-
Education and awareness
- Are your employees aware of this topic?
- Have you equipped your managers with the tools to support neurodivergent talent?
- Are you creating safe spaces?
-
Policies, processes and programmes
- How does neurodiversity fit into your benefits, recruitment, talent management, learning and development, wellbeing and reward strategies?
- Do you need specific neurodiversity policies?
-
Communication and signposting
- How visible is your support internally/externally?
- Are all your communications accessible?
- Is content easy to find?
- Are your leadership messages inclusive?