Supporting & Understanding Autistic People in Employment - A Guide for HR Professionals

Introduction

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapidly changing nature of the modern workplace, now, more than ever, the need for employers to provide appropriate and adequate support to employees with disabilities is crucial. In particular, employers should be mindful of how to identify and support employees who have ‘hidden disabilities’.

This virtual classroom seminar will focus on the issues relating to employees with autism. This is a complex area of disability discrimination law, fraught with challenges for employers and employees alike. A lack of understanding and care with regard to neurodiversity in the workplace can give rise to a number of issues at each stage of the employment relationship.

In this virtual classroom seminar, find out:

• What is meant by neurodiversity
• What is Autism (or ASD)
• Your obligations as an employer to identify any hidden disabilities
• How to assess whether an employee’s condition qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act 2010
• How to manage employees who may not be aware that they have a disability, or who have multiple conditions
• Your obligations as an employer to make reasonable adjustments
• How to deal with concurrent disability and performance issues
• The common pitfalls employers face in this area
• The key common law principles in this area

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• Practical advice for employers on steps they should take to be aware of and monitor neurodiversity in their workforce
• Practical advice to develop fair recruitment practices
• Practical advice in relation to reasonable adjustments that can be made for employees with autism
• Common errors to avoid
• ACAS guidance on neurodiversity
• How tribunals deal with hidden disability cases (including how they will assess whether a disability is caught by the Equality Act 2010, and what constructive knowledge the employer has)

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.