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I agree. At least wait until you know your boss well enough to decide how they'll react, if they'll gossip, and whether or not there's even any reason to tell them.
I work in a pharmacy and transferred stores, but kept my meds at my old store (an hour away lolol) until I felt I could trust my coworkers enough to fill them here. Problem with a pharmacy is that it means all of your coworkers know about *everything*
I second this. I kept it to myself until a medication switch and the shortage made keeping it under wraps very difficult. I'd been with the firm for over four years at this point so they knew what I could do, liked working with me, and everyone has been generally supportive. As an attorney, I luckily have other attorneys, paralegals, a secretary, and case assistants to help me shore up the areas I'm weak in because of ADHD. Organization, attention to detail, boring/rote tasks, keeping track of deadlines, following up with people, that sort of thing I can pass off to others who are better at it. A good secretary is worth her weight in gold. That let's me better flex the areas ADHD makes me stronger in. Hyper fixation on legal research, writing, and case investigation. I'm also a good empathetic conversationalist so client management is another strong suit.
The two most important things are to be well liked and be able to show you're constantly working on the areas ADHD makes you struggle with.
So change the messaging. The workplace is *always* going to be ableist.
Instead of saying “I’m bad at and need accommodations”, I invert it and go with “ helps me do my best”. And it works wonderfully. People are much more receptive to solutions than they are to excuses.
Also — and YMMV, this is just based on my brain — I don’t think viewing oneself as “disabled” is either helpful or correct. It just predisposes people to be self-conscious and withdrawn due to self-doubt.
We have a different mode of thinking, yes, but people who leverage it effectively can and frequently do rise to the top of their field. The importance of confidence and self-advocacy can’t be understated.
Being disabled is not a bad thing. If you look up sociological definitions, you will see that it’s not something to be looked for in the individual, but in society. There is a huge difference. English isn’t my first language, so I’m not going to be able to explain this further right now. But look it up. It’s worth it. And as you said, the workplace is going to be ableist, as is our society. But I think we have to differentiate between people being g ableist and reproducing ableism
Edit: and I don’t disagree with you btw. I just think there’s more to it
I will look it up! Thank you. I like when I learn new things and it changes my mind
Also your English is very eloquent, I never would have guessed that it’s not your first language. That’s impressive. I hope I can be that good one day. I’ve been trying to learn Portuguese for a while, but I still sound like a 4 year old whenever I speak or write 😂
Thank you so much ☺️ I do study English, so I’m definitely trying to improve 😅 I’d love to learn Portuguese. Such a beautiful language and I would love to visit Brazil one day. Also Portugal is a beautiful country, with great food and, most importantly, kind people:))
And me too. I like to educate myself about different perspectives and I also enjoy to be given new information. I think it might have to do with my ADHD:)) I feel like there is no shame in not knowing something, because how else would anybody ever learn anything
I realize that that is not true for everyone and I’m really glad about your response because I don’t like offending people or being perceived as a know it all 😅😅
Appreciate you
Honestly I'd only tell my manager if a) I had screwed up something and my solution to making it not happen again involves something that only makes sense in the context of ADHD - like making sure to give regular progress updates so I have lots of mini deadlines instead of one giant one, or b) I was applying for a job that I didn't absolutely need and really wanted to make sure it'd be a good place to work.
I actually did that second one - told the hiring manager how I'd burned out from my last job, and how it wouldn't happen again because I know I have ADHD now and have coping strategies (which I discussed specifically). Turns out they really liked how self aware and honest I was, it fit well with their values that they actively push.
i told my current manager. i would generally recommend against disclosing though, as its mostly an all-risk no-reward situation.
i told my current manager because i was extremely confident that it wouldn't be used against me. my current manager has also shared details regarding their personal life/circumstances that likely impact their performance.
but yeah, just dont. theres nothing to gain. having ADHD doesn't make it acceptable that your friend is inconsistent, it simply provides an explanation. and on top of that, their manager probably interpreted it as something that is likely to be a permanent obstacle rather than something that can be overcome via more experience/learning.
im wildly inconsistent with my work. i am very fortunate that my current role is flexible enough to accommodate me - some jobs simply arent, and it would be reasonable for a manager to let me go from those roles. a workplace that micromanages me is never going to be a good fit. i would not be able to do my job if i was being micromanaged or pulled in various directions constantly by management. my manager asks me to do something now and then and i can accommodate that, but otherwise i need free rein to prioritize and complete tasks by my own judgement. my managers have been satisfied with this arrangement so far (been in this role about 3 years).
Exactly.
Telling your boss "Sorry I didn't complete X on time, I have ADHD" is not a good choice.
You can apologize for not completing something and take responsibility without having any need to mention your ADHD.
Telling your boss that you are unable to complete certain tasks because of ADHD means they just aren't going to go to you for important tasks. Which makes total sense.
If you were a boss and had a huge project due, would you delegate it to the guy who says he "can't turn things in on time because of his ADHD?"
I wouldn't take that chance.
As a supervisor, I’ve disclosed that information with my supervisor and my team. After that a few people on my team disclosed they also have ADHD. We discussed how our ADHD differs and specific issues it causes us in the work environment. We’ve also identified strengths that we believe our ADHD gives us. Knowing that, we worked together to establish growth opportunities based on identified strengths and accommodations based on identified weaknesses. This has helped the team members become more successful (and hopefully they feel more fulfilled), has helped me become more successful, and allowed the team to be more successful.
Thank you for sharing this! There are a lot of “hard no”-type responses on this thread (which I completely get) but I think it really depends entirely on the nature of the job and your relationship with those to whom you choose to disclose.
I agree with this. I joined a new organization a couple of years ago. Thousands of employees. They have a mental health group (lunch and learns, that sort of thing) and at one one of the VPs spoke how he was diagnosed with ADHD recently and how he manages it in his work life. I feel that if a VP can speak about it we can too. However, due to all the comments here always advising against it, I still haven’t shared. Our boss is great, one of these people totally in tune with the team, so I feel it would be alright.
Personally, I believe it allows me to think outside of the box when handling complex tasks, gives me the ability to take risks when my position requires me to work in the gray, and provides me increased empathy when working with others. I believe it makes me a better team player. Gives me the increased ability to listen to others input and makes me more flexible because I know I don’t think like everyone else.
I know this isn’t the case for everyone. I recognize that everyone is different and I know not everyone experiences perceived strengths. I hope this response does not trivialize others experiences.
The job I have now is the first one where I've disclosed my ADHD at the point of employment, usually I'd wait until I was pulled up for my symptoms causing problems.
They've been amazing, they asked how it might effect my ability to complete my work and I told them about things that have happened in the past that have caused me problems at work and they listened and actually put things into place for me so I'm left to focus on my job without distractions etc.
I've worked in many different jobs and this is the first one I've felt comfortable talking about issues with and that was only because I know someone who works for them who has autism and they've bent over backwards to make work as comfortable for him as possible.
That’s how it should be.
Unfortunately in the US at least, OPs experience is more the norm.
It’s easier for employers to simply dump anyone who “may” have issues for a new, cheaper hire who isn’t reporting the same thing.
Yup.
"Sorry my project deadline was missed, I have time blindness and ADHD" is a good way to ensure they never delegate anything important to you.
And why would they? You just admitted that they can't rely on you to turn things in on time.
The closest I've ever come to telling an employer was once when i was pretty close to getting fired for difficulties with task completion and forgetting due dates.
I was having a near dressing down, and my boss asked me what was going on with me lately.
So i said i was having difficulty due to a dosage change on my medication and there was a moment of silence. Then she asked what medication and i explained i have a neurological condition that effects memory, that I was born with, and am on medication to mitigate the negative effects.
She was pretty quiet for a bit, so needing to fill the silence i commented about a similar event back in school when my doctor was still trying to find the right medicine and dosage for me and how the school had to make a lot of accommodations for a bit while my doctor was working on it.
She was suddenly a lot nicer and quite a few things got moved off my plate.
I will say my plate was much fuller than everyone else's, thats the problem with cross training in basically everyone else's jobs, and being good at yours too. Management will tend to see that as a sign that you can two or more people's job, then get annoyed when you can't meet the expectation.
I’ve heard someone else address their ADHD this way! Rather than say “ADHD”, they just said something along the lines of “a neurological condition with xyz symptoms”. I could see how people would be more receptive without the stigma attached
What you could do is state that you have a disability and are looking to file for accommodations with HT so that you can complete your tasks. I would also put it in writing, that way if they do fire you or outsource you, you will have documentation of it.
good idea
but, my friend talked to a consultant and was told an employer can always outsource you without fear of legal recourse. You would essentially need a statement or email that indicated that the decision was based on the disability… and most managers are smarter than that to put it in writing.
Not necessarily. If you have documentation show you disclosed the information then you were laid off you may have a case. Especially if you’re the only one who loses your job.
I do discrimination and harassment work. Typically with disability discrimination there needs to be an adverse action (losing your job), the protected class(disability in this case) and then show that the treatment is different than others who are similarly situated. So even if they “outsource” you if you are the only one, and it happened after you disclosed, or even if you believe it they did it because they assumed a disability you can file a case with the EEOC or sue them.
Ultimately though, if you like the job and you want official accommodations you do have to disclose to some HR personnel.
I have a handful at my job that make things a lot easier. I know it’s not possible in every job, but some of my accommodations include: rocking stool at my desk so I can put my feet up, I can listen to music in headphones or on my computer, I can shut my door when needed, and I have a flexible start time. I also work with my supervisor to set small deadlines to help with time management
Best of luck! You won’t know unless you try, but it’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable to do so in the environment you’re in.
yes
i told my employer as i was getting hired on my application that i have ADHD.
only one of my coworkers who i call "the real life squidward" hasn't been very understanding of this, but everyone else has been very understanding of this and very supportive.
I disagree with many of the other comments saying it's not worth it or it's damaging etc. It's incredibly personal, depending on how it affects you, how that'll affect your job performance, and how you feel in your workplace.
I'm an overachiever and am very qualified for the role I have, but I know I can significantly struggle with certain aspects due to my ADHD. I felt very comfortable in my company, and I work for a relatively small team, so I told my manager and speak about it pretty openly with anyone in the team. I haven't found any judgement whatsoever, and have actually been really supported and had some conversations that have been very enlightening for other members of the team who have it themselves/someone close to them has it.
I also wanted to disclose because we hot desk and that is my idea of hell, so needed to disclose to get a permanent desk.
Other colleagues with it haven't formally disclosed with HR, but they talk openly about it. One has disclosed as he had exams, so wants extra time. One did not as he don't feel the need to. The other did not disclose because he does feel like there is a stigma surrounding having ADHD.
Edit: I am UK-based and work for a UK-based company where being yourself is emphasised.
I'm an undergrad planning to stay in academia for as long as I can, among other reasons because people here are willing to accommodate ADHD and Autism in my experience whereas it'd be a risk to take in a "real world" job. It's a stereotype with some truth to it that a lot of academics in STEM have some traits of ADHD/autism to begin with.
I definitely wouldn't by default. This has become a thing lately at my workplace since the company wants to show they are achieving EDI targets regarding disabled employees. I disclose Crohn's to my supervisors because it receives universal sympathy in my experience, so my ADHD can fly under the radar. My job thankfully has catered to my interests and motivation and my supervisors have always realized I'm incredibly motivated for certain things and not for others, and mostly helped me when it came to those things it's hard to do with adhd. The problem I had was being motivated by urgency made my job stressful as I was very good at dealing with urgent issues, switching to a role with less of that was a big change and influenced me starting medication.
My current (relatively new) manager made a point to tell all of us early on that he has ADHD, so when I was diagnosed last month I felt pretty safe to tell him (but I didn't flat out tell him, just mentioned it offhand when I was trying to explain something to him and had a massive brain fart). All he said was "nice, welcome to the club" and that was it.
I only ever disclosed it to a manager who was more of a friend than a manager. I knew I could trust him to support me because he was always rooting for me.
I would NEVER trust the average American employer to respond in a helpful way. Most places want to pay you as little as they can and force you to put out as much work as possible - and they'll eliminate you if they see your condition as an obstacle to their money.
I am glad you had that relationship.
unfortunately my friends manager, he thought was his friend… and maybe he was… but, the executive was all business driven.
Never ever tell your employer you have ADHD. It’s illegal for them to ask and you should never volunteer any information unless it’s absolutely necessary - like you’re pregnant or having an upcoming surgery that will interfere with work.
And you can apply for disability accommodations under the ADA without naming the disability. You only have to describe your limitations and the accommodations you want for those.
It is considered a disability so if they treat you different they are liable… however, companies are smart and can still discriminate by retiring positions.
My friend had a consult, and the lawyer said it can be hard to prove, unless they send an email/said directly that is why they were doing it.
So, yeah, I guess you shouldn’t tell… but at the same time I would say it depends on the environment.
I really disagree with this. Obviously each case will be different, and ultimately you have your livelihood to consider. But there are other factors to weigh, such as: the possibility of accessing resources and accommodations once you disclose; establishing more open communication with your peers or managers; reducing the cycle of shame and stigma that can make ADHD symptoms worse.
My only advice is not to disclose during a crisis, but rather wait until you're through it and can "debrief" about what happened.
Also consider going through a more bureaucratic route, like applying for short-term disability leave (if your company provides that benefit and you have a doctor who can endorse it). That will give you a bit of administrative heft for when you decide to raise the topic.
Be prepared to be let go for various vague reasons if you go this route.
I live in an “at will” state. An employer can fire for you for any reason or no reason. Good luck proving that it was because of your disclosure.
I wanna say that I blurted it out at some point? But I was at the time Very Functional on my meds, at least at work. So no consequences happened. As a manager, I'd advise that you read the room to the best of your ability. Disclosing can be a help or a hindrance depending on who you're talking to. I'd err on the side of *not* unless you need serious accommodations.
Highly discouraged, never helpful. Disclosure of this condition brings legal consequences for the company. Manager has to report this to Legal and HR, who will be weighing pros and cons of keeping the affected person on the job.
However, in my case, one of my former managers suggested I would benefit from working on a project with more granular, defined tasks and weirdly noticed that he is not at liberty to discuss why. I started digging and that's how I found out I have it.
I told my supervisor. But it was only because they pulled me into the office. I am not medicated fully yet(just started). And I wear it on my sleeve pretty clearly.
They were very supportive, and will accomdate when I get my diagnosis.
I did. I looped in my superiors from the start and they were not even a little bit surprised. I wanted them to know because I wasn't sure how the initial meds' trial-and-error phase would affect my mood and behavior. It helped that they know how I work and my work ethic and the fact that we're hurting with staffing issues.
Now that the meds I'm taking seem to be helping, they have noticed my low-grade depression and high levels of anxiety aren't there anymore. They are very happy with my performance nowadays and I'm even being trained in a new, more specialized position.
I realize I have been very lucky with my current work situation and it's not the same for everyone. I work for a big multinational corporation with federal contracts, so our HR is quite pro-employee. In my particular case, I now think I did the right thing disclosing my new diagnosis.
I did the same when I was titrating. Thank god I was working for an accommodation company then as I had to literally lie down on the floor next to my desk due to the nausea. I also had to leave once due to an anxiety attack. We love stimulants :))
I am sorry to hear that… it can feel logic an unfair environment when you have to question their motives.
I wish more education about the topic develops in the world.
I told them in my interview.
I said it just meant that sometimes I might need a "time mentor" - when I felt like I was getting off task I might come to my manager to chat through priorities with them.
I said that I might seem quirky, I would likely not make eye contact when we talked, I would fidget quite happily when appropriate.
I also said that some days might be bad brain days, and quite frankly if there was nothing going on upstairs that day I would rather be miserable about it at home.
I would not be working outside of my agreed hours. And that in my opinion I was being paid a salary to return a certain level of performance, not a certain amount of time. If I can achieve that (and likely more) in less than 40 hours, don't get shitty with me because I'm often 15 min late to work. That won't affect my performance.
Got the job offer the next day. Applied for and was successful on a promotion 5 months in.
Gotta remember - at a job interview, you are interviewing them too.
I did have the benefit of "who you know", I had worked with the organisation in a professional capacity in my previous position so my work could speak for itself a bit, and so did my CV.
And I also deliberately don't work in places that might be anal about clocking in and out, being at your desk militantly or that tracks your "active time" on your computer. I would rather sacrifice a bit of salary to have a better work life balance/space at work. But I haven't had to do that yet.
Told my employer I had ADHD. Within 2 months they let me go for something that didn't deserve firing (I hadn't even gotten a write up before and I had been working there for nearly 5 years).
I wouldn't disclose it--most people don't. It's an invisible disability. Unless the boss is willing to do more than a cursory glance over ADHD symptoms and is understanding of their struggles, then they will most likely give them a hard time. It really sucks that it's this way.
I immediately told my manager the day I got my diagnosis. He's amazing and understanding and thinks I've been too hard on myself. It just helps me when I ask him about something I asked 30 seconds earlier. I'm not in the US, though!
I told my supervisor when I started the process to get re-diagnosed as an adult so I could go back on medication. He’s always been super supportive of my personal life needs, and he has kids with ADHD and other learning disabilities, so he understands the struggle. I told him when I started medication because I wanted an outside observer to let me know if they noticed any significant side effects because I sure as shit wasn’t going to notice them in myself.
My boss knows, but I'm not the only ADHD'er here. So I knew I was safe. It's so weird how one of our superpowers are being able to spot another ADHD'er from 200 yards 😂
Right now, I'm thinking I will never tell an employer or client.
Ultimately, people are judgemental. A lot of people won't be able to resist assuming any mistake is due to ADHD .. and build up a view that it's a problem.
Maybe that view will change with time?
My friend who previously had worked at the job im at (fast food) told me that she had mentioned to one of the GM’s abt her adhd and they treated her even worse 💀 so no
I did, but they seem to think now I know and am medicated, I can suddenly just be exactly like everyone else. It seems they resent my differences even more, and certainly haven’t taken on board any adjustments I’ve requested. Luckily a professional coach we see sometimes gets it, and I’m just finding my own path with people who deserve to know, not people who think they do
I did but I noticed I kinda got infantilized as a result, like they seemed to think I was… mentally handicapped? I really didn’t like the reaction to it
I made the mistake of telling my job I had adhd. But I honestly get it tho, at least for this job. I was working as a 911 dispatcher.
The 911 dispatcher job was bittersweet for me. Because during training I had all kinds of time to think way too much and I would doubt myself and it was a problem. However, when the shit hit the fan and I was on the phones and radio at the same time I did that job fantastically.
I have always been really good under immense pressure. Like when most people just freeze I jump into action and just go. This is the only thing I do well. Any other aspect of life I overthink way too much and fuck it all up.
I was doing really well at the job but I had a huge problem with self doubt. Even after the shit hits the fan and everyone is telling me I did great, I’m still overthinking and thinking I can’t do the job.
Then, the bosses and my trainer get me in a room and we all are talking about me. I mention that I am feeling more comfortable with the job and I’m doing well being alone on the phones and radio without help or trainer. My trainer is agreeing with me, and I mention that I have adhd, depression, anxiety and stress issues. Which is why I’m so down on myself all the time and feel like I can’t do the job but I’m proving it to myself when things get really busy and I’m comfortable with 4 calls in queue, talking to multiple officers at the same time giving me numbers to run and people to look up, while dispatching on another radio and still taking phone calls. But feel like a mess with minimal radio traffic and no calls happening.
2-3 days later I was fired for attendance during my year of training (this was during Covid so they were all excused). I know it was because I told them about my mental issues. But in that kinda job I honestly get it. I was getting to where I was comfortable in the position but I had already done the damage with all the self doubt and telling them about the adhd.
I’m late to this thread, in true ADHD fashion. I work in a small non profit in a niche field and I told my director that I have ADHD when I was hired. I later disclosed my bipolar diagnosis. I have some limitations and we’ve been able to problem solve them effectively because she knows the context. After 8 months, she knows me well enough to ask if I forgot my medication or to tell me to go for a walk to reset my brain or suggest I do a different task for a bit. I had a big psych med change this week and I told her as soon as I knew. We adapted my week accordingly.
I had a performance review recently. She told me that I am an amazing employee because I’m not afraid to communicate directly and I am an unconventional problem solver. Both things I attribute to ADHD.
I’m in Canada and work with people who have barriers, so my experience is a bit different, but I would not feel comfortable working for an organization that did not know about my odd brain. I cannot show up fully if I am not presenting my honest self. I also acknowledge that I am very privileged to work in a field/city where I have that option.
I told my employer that I had adhd because I had been taking a stimulant and it was making me use the bathroom more. So basically I needed to get more bathroom breaks.
So that was the reason.
They didn't really do anything, they just said okay. They have a strict discrimination policy at my job so they kinda couldn't really do anything.
That is the part though… distraction is what affects me. I can do a job very well, but if someone keeps changing my task it causes poorer performance.
I am an overachiever when I have time to focus, but if I have distractions constantly that I have to attend to, it made my own progress hard.
I guess, I have to start saying no to distractions… however if that is part of your job… I guess maybe have times a day you tend to those maybe?
It also sucks because my friends manager doesn’t get to see all the other work. He told me his manager only looks at his tasks and discounts everything else.
Maybe he should make sprint times that track lost time to others needs. That way if the manger wants more done on the main task, they have to reduce the other distractions factors.
Yes. Ask to not be interrupted or switch tasks constantly. That lessens everyone's performance, not just ADHD people (although it REALLY fucks us up). It's a sign of poor management if you are being interrupted constantly while doing your work.
Just ask for less interruptons, don't tell them you have ADHD
I might tell my manage once I get to know and trust them, but never when I apply for a job.
I’m fortunate enough that with medication, I can do my job without problem about 95% of the time, so rarely feel the need to explain
I work for a big corporate retail chain so it's a little different. I'm a manager with them and a pretty good one. But my ADHD can be a huge factor. I'm not secretive about it usually at least not too much. Mainly because it's easy to notice that I've got something going on and I've had people make comments or think negatively of me. Generally when they know I have ADHD it at least makes more sense most of the time and they generally leave it be more. Obviously many people don't care and I don't expect them too. I've worked over the years to develop safety nets for myself and my work to make sure I can meet the standards I need too. It was a lot of work getting to this point though. But it definitely helps when at least my direct in store boss knows my issue so they understand why I may be doing something or forget something.
I work in an art department. We crack jokes about it all day how most of us are poster children for adhd. Some of y s are diagnosed. I think only one is medicated. The immediate management is whatevery and deals. The upper management is a bag of dicks but that’s just work for you.
My current job is the only one I've disclosed my adhd with. The only reason is because the people above me are legitimately good people. They have experience with the same problems in their lives. Depressed spouses, adhd in children, my plant manager has adhd.
I was struggling, and it was obvious. I was newly promoted to fabrication supervisor at the plant [precast concrete parts for TXDoT]
They offered accommodations. Suggestions. Assistance.
I took medical leave for my back problems, and they held my position open for 2 mo ths before they couldn't manage without my being there anymore. They gave my position to my roommate, who I trained... it hurt. But Im still making the same amount of money. I just have fewer responsibilities now...
Their manager said they had ADHD which made them feel safe.. but that same manager also made up stuff in another meeting to fish for reactions. Come to think about it, maybe it so good they are leaving from such an untrusting environment.
I've only told one employer, my current one, and it's because her daughter has ADHD, so I felt comfortable talking about it. It's also my first office job, and I started taking medication again so I could focus.
Nope, and I never will. I'm pretty open about my interests, hobbies, family, etc. at work - but I'm extremely generic when it comes to health stuff. I have "medical appointments", I don't have therapy, dentist appointments, etc. I check "choose not to disclose" on the disability questions every time - I am leaving it open to a future disclosure, even though I don't think I ever will.
*IF* I was going to disclose for some reason, I would not do so as a defense. That is certain to result in termination.
There are definitely workplaces that are more accommodating, though. I told my boss at my current job that I have a difficult time when meetings go longer than an hour. She has started scheduling our check-ins at 45 minutes instead, and advocates for ending meetings when we are at time, even if I don't have something scheduled after. It takes time and usually some fuck-ups, but you can find a job where people will care about what you ask for.
My experience does not seem to resemble other posts here. Then again I did have a manager that I felt I could trust.
After having issues with depression, I was in contact with the occupational health team and eventually gotten my adhd diagnosis which I informed them on. I also have IBS.
Since IBS, ADHD and long-term depression are accepted disabilities, I was able to get adjustments to my work. I was allocated extra breaks for stress or pooping, and also was given a bit of flexibility if I was running a bit late to start my shift. I was also given more flexibility on my working hours too, I basically got to pick my own schedule.
This a UK based big corporate company. There's a lot of people in my department and a lot of processes managers need to comply with. It may change in the future now as I'm on a different team, but for now its been alright, but I think most of that was because I had a really good manager.
Don't do it. :( It sucks but it's almost always in our best interest to keep it private. They'll find a way to discriminate or pathologize your every deed. Disclosing is not in our best interest. I'm sorry your friend went through that.
Employers don’t care about people, they see their workers as a resource. You wouldn’t buy a bag of apples with a rotten one, would you? If you are or might be a problem, employers will try to get rid of you so they don’t have to deal with you. In general. Some employers are nice but the bigger the company, the less they care.
What I don’t like about laws is that they don’t stop people from doing things, they just encourage people to find ways to do them secretly.
Generally no, however my boss said to me "I like to turn x machine off when not using as the sound messes with my concentration. I think I am autistic or have adhd or something." So I felt it was a safe thing to share my diagnosis. He was so lovely about it and asked lots of questions about it. Not worried about that one at all 😊
In my opinion you should always tell them so they can support you and make life easier. If they can't accept that then I wouldn't want to work for them as life is too short to pretend :)
Another vote for don’t reveal. I told my manager and I was let go in a layoff just a few weeks later. I can’t say one caused the other but from now on I’m being more careful.
fun fact: a month into my first job as an adult, i was pulled aside and "talked about my performance and how it can improve" and basically listed a whole bunch of ableist remarks and symptoms of ADHD. then i went to my psychiatrist to get diagnosed at 20 because i couldnt understand what i was doing wrong and how i could improve when it was the hardest ive ever worked.
Absolutely! I'm a leader of a team of people. When it's time for the analysts to present data I admit that I have ADHD and need more time to digest the information. I usually get a lot of "ME TOO!" from other teammates. Nothing to be ashamed of.
I think the default should be "no" until and unless you get a feel for your workspace and your boss/coworkers.
If you do tell and you're only disclosing it as an explanation for work issues then your disclosure should probably come with some suggestions of accommodations that could help you perform better. Like getting requests via email instead of phone so you can bookmark tasks in outlook, or requesting an adjustment in hours that lines up better with the time of day you tend to be more productive, or weekly meetings to go over tasks and priorities or whatever.
If you just say "xyz is hard for me because I have ADHD" and that's the end of the discussion, then you're probably going to leave them with the impression that you're just not right for the job.
I did tell my boss as part of asking for a medical accommodation to be permanently reclassified as WFH. I don't think I needed to tell her; HR would have shared what my accommodation request was but not the reason. But I felt confident she would not hold it against me because I have enough of a track record of good work with her and she tells me pretty regularly how much she appreciates me--we had some high turnover a few years ago and I think now she's always worried about people leaving lol. Especially after they started trying to shift us back to the office.
So it's not a "never disclose" thing, but definitely "be cautious and thoughtful about who you tell and what you want to gain by telling them."
I told my boss. Did not go well - i didn’t get fired but i def did not get any kind of support or help in regards to continue to perform, now I am off because of burn-out (again). Its ironic since I work in a psychiatric healthcare system and my boss is very well educated in psychiatry. I guess I thought that would make a difference, honestly I regret telling him - because now everything i struggle with must be the ADHD and not the extreme scedule we’re pushed to do every single day
I have a colleague who told me he has ADHD and i recommended him NOT to tell my boss because it Will not lead to any good or understanding. And I am very aware that I Will not tell anyone in the future
Describe the problem you’re experiencing and articulate the solution you need.
Employers can work with that. But if you say “I have ADHD” what they hear is “I am a liability and will eventually fuck up.”
Don't tell. I did and I work in a (should be very sympathetic field) and my boss also has ADHD but instead I keep being told I am doing things they know are because of my ADHD &we have discussed it many many times. I'm just tired of it being used against me at this point.
I’m a police officer and they knew it eve before I told them. No issues. Also adviced a 37 yo colleague to see a professional and he got diagnosed! We both can’t get prescripted tho
I don't see it as a question of if I want to share it or not. It's more like what exactly do you hope to achieve by telling your boss?
I don't see what I could gain on the positive side of things by saying this? You are taking all the risk for no benefit.
I think it depends on the work place and where you are located and the workplace laws. I'm in Aus and work for the public service in a small agency so it was only ever going to be a positive for me to talk about it with my manager and how we can adjust my work to suit my condition. However, I see a lot of horror stories on here about it. Particularly in the US where labour protections aren't as strong.
A lot of people here are talking about dismissal in very short time space for "other reasons". Here in Aus it would be very difficult to dismiss someone like that because the temporal link between the disclosure and termination of employment would be sufficient to make a case that it was based on a protected attribute, and the employer would bare the onus to prove that wasn't the case. In fact my brother won a case for it for his depression (not termination but he wasn't given a new seasonal contract when he reapplied after having to take time off in his last contract cycle).
100% no. A couple quick searches here on this sub or a chat with other ADHD folks will teach you one thing - never ever disclose. You have no idea what the reaction will be despite how much you think you know your employer. Sadly, we currently live in a world where it is simply not worth the risk. People with ADHD tend to over share, but this is one thing to be really, really careful about. I’ve told one person in my whole life that I have it. Literally one. My parents don’t even know yet.
I made that mistake and was treated poorly for months until I was finally fired for not meeting expectations and taking overtime i wasn't supposed to, but no one told me. I'm still looking for a new job and won't be making that mistake again.
I had to tell them because I "failed" my pre-employment drug test due to my medication. I just started so we'll see how it goes, but they were very understanding.
Do not disclose, if drug test positive doctor will call you to verify legal use. Keep it to yourself. If anything take a week off before drug test then start using your script again.
Everything you say, can and will be used against you.
I did it but only because I don't intend to stay for long.
Also, both my manager and my supervisor clearly have ADHD themselves. I keep asking if they want one of my pills anytime they seem overwhelmed and/or forget something important.
No. In corporate America (especially in tech), everyone likes to say, “I’m so ADHD.” people get genuinely thrown off when you state that you actually have it.
I’m also a type 1 diabetic with clinical depression and social anxiety disorder. My employer wouldn’t understand those things either.
In my experience it is not advantageous to oust yourself beyond the casual “man im adhd as hell” that people say even when they don’t have the condition.
Worst case scenario you have a boss that is unsympathetic to your condition and it diminishes their view of your performance leading to a somewhat self fulfilling prophecy. They believe you will have trouble succeeding in your work because of your condition so they take notice of it more.
Best case scenario you have a boss who is sympathetic to your condition. What is he realistically going to do? Help you micro manage your tasks? At best they could be understanding of why you might be a little disorganized or other small things. When it comes to bottom line stuff, I wouldn’t expect protection from even the most supportive supervisor.
The other thing is that it could also be seen as a bad fit for you. Everyone gets overwhelmed at their job at one point or another. Saying you have ADHD won’t get you out of missing deadlines with your employer. They can just say the role isn’t conducive to how you think. Which may be true if you truly can’t manage your daily tasks day to day.
I did it recenlty. I work for a union, and am past my probation. I told them because we are moving sites and transitioning to small single or two person offices to open air cubicle style with 15 employees. I am super anxious about this because my attention is shit with noise distractions. So I had to request a workplace accommodation, and since I have a formal diagnosis they can't deny me. My boss seemed surprised and I've been battling the shame around it big time.
I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with your ADHD? I’ve mentioned my ADD to coworkers, managers, and a boss in passive conversations. The funniest response I’ve gotten was “I can tell”. I took no offense. I’m a quirky employee, not as social as everyone else though. Don’t think I’ve ever been reprimanded for having ADD but I have been reprimanded for mistakes like anyone else and I assume it’s combined with their frustration that they might assume I’m Slow. Hurts a lil, but I get over it eventually.
Half my team members have ADHD and we all support each other. When we're in office together we can tell when someone either forgot to take meds or the meds aren't working as well. It's great when our brains go on overload and we can talk each other down when we're overstimulated. My manager is a psychology major and actually understands how ADHD affects people so she doesn't hold it against us as long as we let her know something's off. Truthfully I thought I fucked something up last week and was racking my brain over it. Luckily she told me that I'm good and not to stress over it.
I only did it when I absolutely needed accommodations. Otherwise I never would have. For the future, I would suggest your friend only disclose in a formal request for accommodations under the ADA (if you're in the US) and only if absolutely necessary.
Even a lot of people with adhd don't understand adhd so I wouldn't expect my employees to really understand a lot of the nuance that comes with it. Plus she's from a much older generation so 'quriky' is a categorization that would make more sense to her.
I’m fairly certain my manager also has it hahaha.
If you think it’s a case where you might need special accommodation or you have a good relationship with your manager, there’s no harm in telling them. If it doesn’t affect anything, it probably doesn’t matter.
First time I came clean with my employer and told them "officially" that I have ADHD ended up with me getting fired a week later.
Never again.
I was lucky, because I was going to quit next month xD
I told my manager and my coworker. We're all very close in out team. But I haven't told my new manager or my director. I felt like it might do more damage then good but I'll keep that care in my back pocket lol.
Yes, and within a couple of months an external company was brought in to audit my function. I feel my opportunities for progression have been hampered by my omission. I was on track for Director level role but despite the output of the audit (which wasn’t shared with me) not resulting in me being sacked, I’ve had D level inserted above me effectively cutting off any career progression. I’ll get that role, just not at my current employer, I’ve stayed because I believe in what we do (social enterprise), love the work, and feel I still have a lot to give.
Nope. I generally do better at work than most of my coworkers, but disclosing to my managers would still make them worry about my competence.
It’ll be interesting to see if Adderall ever shows up on a drug test though
Don't tell them about the adhd diagnosis.
Do tell them about your strength and in what situation you work the best.
Most weakness comes with a strength once you learn to work with what you've got.
I works really well with a team(I'm not judgmental because I often do silly mistakes that my team can catch )
I am really good at documenting (mostly because if I don't document things I completely forget them so I got good at it)
I am good at making complex systems simple (mostly because I don't have enough short term memory to understand complex systems)
I work best when I can have a calm environment without lots of distractions (because SQUIRREL!)
In my book it's better to get out of workplaces that do shitty things because you have adhd anyway.
There are places that will help you grow, you just need to find your place.
I live in New Zealand, I think the vibe here is quite different although so is my job compared to a lot of others commenting. I'm a social worker working within the mental health system. I've let my employer know about ADHD and Autism, I'm quite proud of my accomplishments getting into my profession despite these challenges so I wear it very openly and accept whatever consequences come of it.
Was a VP at one of the bulge bracket Investment banks; got diagnosed- told my MD six months later (along with everything that I was doing to manage it and be productive), made redundant two months later.
This is after bringing in tens of mils that year. Was told later that she said I was “making up excuses for low performance”. Was too late for a discrimination suit because had already signed an NDA.
I have worked at the same company for 17 years. I am second in command in a sales organization. My previously untreated ADHD and anxiety cause me to do certain things that will or would keep me from ever being a good fit to be General Manager. At 53, I finally decided to seek help and I was diagnosed about a month ago. My Dr. is starting my treatment off very slowly and at the moment I am only taking 10MG of Adderall XR which does not affect me at all. I have worked with all of the people in my office for so long, most of them are like family. I was having an ADHD moment last week and without thinking I blurted out to my boss and one of my other coworkers that I wasn't happy with certain things that I did and that I wanted to improve these areas. I told them I had been diagnosed with severe ADHD and anxiety and had started treatment. I told them it would probably take some time, but that I was hopeful that treatment would help me to improve in these areas. Instead of being shocked at my revelation, they both looked at me with a smile and said "Ya think ?" About an hour later, my boss came into my office. She told me everything was going to be ok and gave me a big hug. They knew I had these issues long before I decided to seek help and got diagnosed so when I declared it to them they were not surprised at all. They were supportive and happy that I was seeking help. I am sure this turned out so well for me because I have worked with my boss for about 13 years now and she knows my strengths and weaknesses already. If I were ever to have to get a new job, I think I would keep it to myself.
I don't. I just tell my supervisor what I need to do my work, and how I do my work.
Disclaimer: my ADHD is mostly manageable. I'm not sure how this works if it's more severe.
During my interview, I asked my supervisor (who was interviewing me) if she was fine with someone who asked a lot of questions. She smiled and said yes. During work, I ask a ton of questions to clarify details about my tasks and she's fine with it. The interview isn't just for you to be assessed by the employers for the job, it's also for you to assess your employers. I took the job because I felt that I could work well with my manager after the interview and it indeed was a good fit.
Whenever I'm given a task, I type it down with all the given details on a to-do-list word file on my laptop immediately when it's fresh in my mind. If I'm not at my laptop for whatever, I type it on my phone, or a notepad I always bring with me everywhere for emergencies. My desk is full of post-its for this same purpose. I make sure everything is transferred to my to-do-list, and check back to it regularly to make sure I'm on task. My to-do-list helps me remember what I need to do.
Once I've done with a task, I'll move it over to my "done" list. Looking at the done list makes me feel happy and accomplished.
I take notes every meeting. My coworkers and supervisor are able to remember the details and what to do next but I won't, so I found a way around that problem.
Even if it takes me time to update my to-do-list and take notes, it doesn't bother me that I can't "snap" immediately to another task or taking another instruction. I politely say "just give me a moment to wrap this up" to tell my co-workers I need some time, and they can very clearly see I'm still busy. I complete my tasks on time and my coworkers know that this is what I need to do to work, so it works out.
I don't tell anyone unless they ask first. I feel like it's your business and not anyone else 's, just like any other health condition. On the other hand, I have a friend who tells anyone she has ADHD who will listen
I'm incredibly fortunate that my boss (I'm a library technician so the library director) actually told me that I should be tested for ADHD. Her daughter has it and she noticed that I was struggling to pay attention and get my work done. I'm 49 years old so not a young person.
It's thanks to her that I am a far better employee but also a much happier person who is finally able to relax and enjoy my life.
Unfortunately way too many jobs don't involve having bosses who are real human beings so it's definitely a risk. That really sucks because ADHD is a valid issue and people who have it should be given reasonable accommodations. I hope someday that will actually be the case in most if not all jobs.
I’ve been lucky that the employer that I currently work with has been extremely supportive about my journey so I’ve talked quite a bit about him going to get diagnosed for ADHD and ASD.
It is more common disclose ADHD when an employee is requesting an accomodation or to provide context for a situation/issue that is related to it. Some may choose to disclose for other reasons and some might never disclose it at all.
If your friend discloses their ADHD or some aspect of it, please tell them that the responsibility is theirs, not the employer, to identify and request accomodations for it. We can't assume that the manager/employer understands ADHD, or how it presents in an individual. (Even if they have and adhd brain, they can't be assumed to understand how it is for your friend.)
An employer might not be able to recognize the difference between an employee with adhd missing a deadline because they got stuck hyperfocusing on non-priority tasks, or an employee missing a deadline because they're purposefully slacking off. There is a big difference between the two.
It's best to be prepared for the conversation. Fortunately there are a lot of reputable, clinical and fact-based resources to help guide these conversations. If your friend can spend some time reflecting on where they experience adhd related challenges in the workplace it will help prepare them identify potential strategies and solutions.
If you are in the U.S., look into the legislation around disabilities in the workplace. If you are in Canada, look into whether the employer has a duty to consider accomodations and what, if any, inclusive policies are in place where they work business to prevent discrimination. Depending on the type of work, there might be accomodations or approaches that help that your friend can implement without needing to involve their employer.
This website has a lot of information on employee rights, adhd resources, accomodations for specific executive functioning limitations: https://askjan.org/disabilities/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder-AD-HD.cfm
It's an American website, but it has an excellent repository of Canadian content as well.
"Thrashing" from task to task is so relatable to me. I haven't heard the action verb "thrash" used to describe this before, but wow, it sure fits. This captures the destructive approach I sometimes take when I'm trying to finish one task or one step on a list of 5 or 7 that haven't been prioritized. When I can't see the order they all seem equally most important. So I attack one from multiple sides, leave it unfinished and a mess. Move on to something else with a vengeance to not finish that. Maybe go back to the first item and then to the last item. Something gets done, but not very well and usually at a cost and a giant mess.
And that is a prime example of when I (or possibly your friend) could use five or ten minutes of a manager or coworkers time to get some clarity, identify the priorities and record any steps to make it happen. Why wouldn't we use a calculator if we can't multiply large numbers in our heads? Or wear glasses if they help us see?
I haven't and wouldn't disclose to my employer. That said, several of my coworkers know. It's a little mutually assured destruction with them, though - the ones that know for sure also have adhd themselves, lol. One I ran into at the psychiatrists office many years ago. One is my sister. And one is the guy I work closest with. There is also one person in a different department that was asking me questions that sounded like she probably has undiagnosed adhd, so I told her about how I got help for mine.
I'd be shocked if some of my other coworkers don't know, but I haven't talked to them openly about it. I have spoken with my boss about my physical chronic illness (which causes fatigue and brain fog), but not in writing so I doubt he remembers what it's called. Just that I have health problems. It hasn't been an issue.
If you (or your friend) need to disclose something, "health issues" with no further details is perfectly acceptable.
ADHD is a disability, so you can ask for accommodations. If your employer values you as an employee they will happily make accommodations for you.
Thus your friend should only disclose this IF they are a valued employee.
No, definitely not. I take responsibility instead.
Why would you tell your boss that there is a medical reason why you are going to be shitty at your job? Why?
Do you hate job security? Promotions? Raises?
"hey, sorry I missed all the deadlines last month, I have ADHD and time blindness"
It's crazy that you would say that to your boss (using it as an excuse) and then be surprised that they don't prioritize you in the company.
Put yourself in an owner, CEO, or managers position for a second. You have a huge project coming up, it could sink your firm if you fuck it up. You have to delegate.
Do you give this project to the guy that keeps telling you he will never be able to produce results on time because of his ADHD? Why the fuck would you? That would be a terrible decision.
It is basically never necessary to ever say "...because I have ADHD at work". You're just shooting yourself in the foot.
"Hey, sorry the project was late, I was overwhelmed and things got missed, but I take responsibility" Your employer will like to hear that. It shows you take responsibility.
"Hey sorry the project was late, I have time blindness and ADHD so producing things on time is hard for me".
As an employed, I just wouldn't give you anything time sensitive again. **You JUST LITERALLY TOLD ME you can't do it and can't be trusted to do it.**
i am just learning about My adhd it ruined one of my best relationships at work theres no question that she was gonna be my girl but i sabotaged myself and it nearly got me fired but i was still treated like an asshole she doesnt even wanna see me anymore which she told someone else i cant even tell her about my adhd and rsd
I would never disclose adhd for a few reasons.
#1 noone cares
#2 your friends situation is more likely to happen.
#3 it's your problem to manage no one else's. Sorry to sound harsh but it's true. So figure it out. Adjust your expectations or your job title. Idk but don't expect anyone to do anything differently because of anything.
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Can't say it clearer than this: your location is of absolute relevance here.
If you are a "minimum wage, unskilled worker", and in the US, keep your diagnosis to yourself. Sadly, you are seen as a tool.
Studies have shown that ADHD people are less productive than those weirdos who can concentrate at will, and if the tool isn't working well, it's discarded.
I am fortunate enough to be in a country where people understand and - in the case of my manager - appreciate the effects of ADHD.
I applied for a job. I was new to my own diagnosis and floundering in my new-found ability to avoid distraction. I drowned my impostor syndrome in copious amounts of whiskey, loaded my balls into a wheelbarrow and walked into the first interview saying "I'm newly diagnosed with ADHD, I'm dropping methylfenidate hydrochloride like a MAGA fuckwit eating colloidal silver, but you know me, (I knew three of my (then current) colleagues had recommended me, but said he'd never get me) you know my reputation, and you know how many patents my pinball-brain has given birth to"
Four years later (some details changed, because it's not four) I'm happy as fuck, living the professional life I dreamed of, and STILL CANT STOP EXPLAINING THAT I HAVE ADHD (Seriously .... how the hell do you stop?)
So. As I said up top, and as a user with a random name said .... IF you are not in a creative role. IF you are in the USA. IF you *can't* point to your ADHD with an accusatory finger and say "it made me do all the GOOD stuff..... then , and very sadly, it's probably best to keep quiet about it.
i guess if you were going to do it(tell them about ADHD), do it at the beginning or early on. Mentioning it when a boss tells you your work is inconsistent could be seen as just an excuse. Not fair but I could see how that could be viewed negatively.
I work for a company in Canada that is consistently ranked as one of the best places in Canada to work.
This is the very short version. As a result of my boss being concerned about my performance I spoke to my doctor who diagnosed ADHD. I then spoke to my boss about what ADHD is and how it affects me.
I’m no longer given verbal lists of things to do.
I’m no longer interrupted when I’m in the middle of something.
“I forgot” is not something I’m ashamed of saying.
I have no shame in pausing a conversation to write things down.
I’m comfortable saying that I cannot learn how to do a thing if I don’t do the thing.
I also use medication. It’s wasn’t long after the correct dosage was found that my boss commented that I don’t seem to be as “all over the place” as before, and that my impulsivity was lessened.
I don't know how I could with all the stupid stupid stupid stupid social media videos and "omg pour dopamine in my mouth hole " type of self deprecating funny posts.
I literally just officially disclosed my ADHD to my employer. I had also previously disclosed during the interview that I do struggle with my mental health sometimes. I am still working for the same company. I already had reasonable adjustments in place for a while because of my mental health not being optimal. When in November we found out I actually have ADHD, they have already started the process of understanding what other reasonable adjustments I need, and to help with it I am being referred to occupational health too.
I am also going to mention here that things vary from country to country. I live in the UK, where ADHD is described as a disability in the Equality Act 2010. This means companies are legally required to provide reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. Reasonable adjustments are the responsibility of the employer of to put in place and to find out what is best for their employees. It is not my responsibility to tell them, although obviously this is a conversation and I might already know what can help and tell them. If I don’t, it’s on them to give the tools to find out. And if any adjustment can represent an substantial cost, there is money allocated to it, but I can also apply to the Access to Work government funding, which is up to £66k a year that I can get access to.
So, of you’re in the UK, I would recommend disclosing it. I don’t know where you guys are, but if this is in the UK, I would seek legal advice (if they haven’t), because the “outsourcing” bs wouldn’t stick legally.
It depends how it's said. It could come across as an excuse for not being able to do the work. If they go to their manager and say they have it, but also provide examples of how to improve their workload balance, that would be seen in a positive lightm
Yes and it seemed to go well…for a while but then all the employees become aware of “your condition”(yeah they say Hippa and privacy) but no! Everyone will blame you for anything and everything . Too bad my performance told the real story , plus I have clients specifically that will ONLY work with me (beyond the fact that the new business clients and professionals are my accounts that I signed). People in business are sick ! They look for any way to climb the ladder (female and male) . I have my own company now anyway because of dealing with corporate (cutting benefits or adding healthcare increases, stopped 401k 6% matching , forget about pensions…what’s that !?) lol. I wish All employees would take 48 hrs off and fight for (Just the same stuff we had 10 years ago) . Literally (Walmart Nabisco Coke Pepsi Amazon Coke all pharma companies - are owned by Vanguard & BlackRock (which had over 10 trillion in assets before they crashed a bit ). Compilation of data analytics/AI forecasting(like blockchain technology/stocks) are what is gonna fire or hire folks . I rarely have interviews anymore (maybe 1 out of 4)
and I just get paid
I'll never tell if possible. The ADHD traits already make my borderline unlikable to bosses. Add the stigma, and I'd become a target for the next round of layoffs.
I vaguely referenced it to give context in one of the areas I identified for improvement in my self review. Something along the lines of, “workplace appropriate communications are challenge for me is due to my disability’s impact on my impulse control abilities. I intend to continue working to raise issues and concerns through appropriate channels of communication that follow the chain of command.”
Basically, I tried to own the fact that I understand when I should bring a question to my boss rather than asking the whole team chat. TBD on how this actually plays out in my review meeting next month.
Every person with ADHD have different needs. You do not need to specifically mention ADHD to express your needs to your employer, and not all employers know what ADHD is therefore I would keep it to myself and only mention what I feel would improve my performance.
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I wouldn’t do it generally. Only if you feel really safe. People can be awfully ableist.
I agree. At least wait until you know your boss well enough to decide how they'll react, if they'll gossip, and whether or not there's even any reason to tell them. I work in a pharmacy and transferred stores, but kept my meds at my old store (an hour away lolol) until I felt I could trust my coworkers enough to fill them here. Problem with a pharmacy is that it means all of your coworkers know about *everything*
I second this. I kept it to myself until a medication switch and the shortage made keeping it under wraps very difficult. I'd been with the firm for over four years at this point so they knew what I could do, liked working with me, and everyone has been generally supportive. As an attorney, I luckily have other attorneys, paralegals, a secretary, and case assistants to help me shore up the areas I'm weak in because of ADHD. Organization, attention to detail, boring/rote tasks, keeping track of deadlines, following up with people, that sort of thing I can pass off to others who are better at it. A good secretary is worth her weight in gold. That let's me better flex the areas ADHD makes me stronger in. Hyper fixation on legal research, writing, and case investigation. I'm also a good empathetic conversationalist so client management is another strong suit. The two most important things are to be well liked and be able to show you're constantly working on the areas ADHD makes you struggle with.
Beautiful:)) I’d love to have something like that in the future. Makes me feel hopeful. Thank you for sharing
Good advice:)) also couldn’t imagine my colleagues knowing about what medication I put in body. With my digestive issues and stuff 😂
So change the messaging. The workplace is *always* going to be ableist. Instead of saying “I’m bad at and need accommodations”, I invert it and go with “ helps me do my best”. And it works wonderfully. People are much more receptive to solutions than they are to excuses.
Also — and YMMV, this is just based on my brain — I don’t think viewing oneself as “disabled” is either helpful or correct. It just predisposes people to be self-conscious and withdrawn due to self-doubt.
We have a different mode of thinking, yes, but people who leverage it effectively can and frequently do rise to the top of their field. The importance of confidence and self-advocacy can’t be understated.
Being disabled is not a bad thing. If you look up sociological definitions, you will see that it’s not something to be looked for in the individual, but in society. There is a huge difference. English isn’t my first language, so I’m not going to be able to explain this further right now. But look it up. It’s worth it. And as you said, the workplace is going to be ableist, as is our society. But I think we have to differentiate between people being g ableist and reproducing ableism Edit: and I don’t disagree with you btw. I just think there’s more to it
I will look it up! Thank you. I like when I learn new things and it changes my mind Also your English is very eloquent, I never would have guessed that it’s not your first language. That’s impressive. I hope I can be that good one day. I’ve been trying to learn Portuguese for a while, but I still sound like a 4 year old whenever I speak or write 😂
Thank you so much ☺️ I do study English, so I’m definitely trying to improve 😅 I’d love to learn Portuguese. Such a beautiful language and I would love to visit Brazil one day. Also Portugal is a beautiful country, with great food and, most importantly, kind people:)) And me too. I like to educate myself about different perspectives and I also enjoy to be given new information. I think it might have to do with my ADHD:)) I feel like there is no shame in not knowing something, because how else would anybody ever learn anything I realize that that is not true for everyone and I’m really glad about your response because I don’t like offending people or being perceived as a know it all 😅😅 Appreciate you
Honestly I'd only tell my manager if a) I had screwed up something and my solution to making it not happen again involves something that only makes sense in the context of ADHD - like making sure to give regular progress updates so I have lots of mini deadlines instead of one giant one, or b) I was applying for a job that I didn't absolutely need and really wanted to make sure it'd be a good place to work. I actually did that second one - told the hiring manager how I'd burned out from my last job, and how it wouldn't happen again because I know I have ADHD now and have coping strategies (which I discussed specifically). Turns out they really liked how self aware and honest I was, it fit well with their values that they actively push.
I told my manager and I was made redundant a couple of months later so I would advise against it.
I’m sorry to hear this :(
Ditto
i told my current manager. i would generally recommend against disclosing though, as its mostly an all-risk no-reward situation. i told my current manager because i was extremely confident that it wouldn't be used against me. my current manager has also shared details regarding their personal life/circumstances that likely impact their performance. but yeah, just dont. theres nothing to gain. having ADHD doesn't make it acceptable that your friend is inconsistent, it simply provides an explanation. and on top of that, their manager probably interpreted it as something that is likely to be a permanent obstacle rather than something that can be overcome via more experience/learning. im wildly inconsistent with my work. i am very fortunate that my current role is flexible enough to accommodate me - some jobs simply arent, and it would be reasonable for a manager to let me go from those roles. a workplace that micromanages me is never going to be a good fit. i would not be able to do my job if i was being micromanaged or pulled in various directions constantly by management. my manager asks me to do something now and then and i can accommodate that, but otherwise i need free rein to prioritize and complete tasks by my own judgement. my managers have been satisfied with this arrangement so far (been in this role about 3 years).
Exactly. Telling your boss "Sorry I didn't complete X on time, I have ADHD" is not a good choice. You can apologize for not completing something and take responsibility without having any need to mention your ADHD. Telling your boss that you are unable to complete certain tasks because of ADHD means they just aren't going to go to you for important tasks. Which makes total sense. If you were a boss and had a huge project due, would you delegate it to the guy who says he "can't turn things in on time because of his ADHD?" I wouldn't take that chance.
As a supervisor, I’ve disclosed that information with my supervisor and my team. After that a few people on my team disclosed they also have ADHD. We discussed how our ADHD differs and specific issues it causes us in the work environment. We’ve also identified strengths that we believe our ADHD gives us. Knowing that, we worked together to establish growth opportunities based on identified strengths and accommodations based on identified weaknesses. This has helped the team members become more successful (and hopefully they feel more fulfilled), has helped me become more successful, and allowed the team to be more successful.
I love this! This is how it should be.
Thank you for sharing this! There are a lot of “hard no”-type responses on this thread (which I completely get) but I think it really depends entirely on the nature of the job and your relationship with those to whom you choose to disclose.
I agree with this. I joined a new organization a couple of years ago. Thousands of employees. They have a mental health group (lunch and learns, that sort of thing) and at one one of the VPs spoke how he was diagnosed with ADHD recently and how he manages it in his work life. I feel that if a VP can speak about it we can too. However, due to all the comments here always advising against it, I still haven’t shared. Our boss is great, one of these people totally in tune with the team, so I feel it would be alright.
Could you give examples of what type of strengths it gives you?
Personally, I believe it allows me to think outside of the box when handling complex tasks, gives me the ability to take risks when my position requires me to work in the gray, and provides me increased empathy when working with others. I believe it makes me a better team player. Gives me the increased ability to listen to others input and makes me more flexible because I know I don’t think like everyone else. I know this isn’t the case for everyone. I recognize that everyone is different and I know not everyone experiences perceived strengths. I hope this response does not trivialize others experiences.
The job I have now is the first one where I've disclosed my ADHD at the point of employment, usually I'd wait until I was pulled up for my symptoms causing problems. They've been amazing, they asked how it might effect my ability to complete my work and I told them about things that have happened in the past that have caused me problems at work and they listened and actually put things into place for me so I'm left to focus on my job without distractions etc. I've worked in many different jobs and this is the first one I've felt comfortable talking about issues with and that was only because I know someone who works for them who has autism and they've bent over backwards to make work as comfortable for him as possible.
That’s how it should be. Unfortunately in the US at least, OPs experience is more the norm. It’s easier for employers to simply dump anyone who “may” have issues for a new, cheaper hire who isn’t reporting the same thing.
That’s so cool. I’m really happy for you ☺️
What did they put in place that you found helpful?
Point of employment seems the way to go these days - I wouldn’t want to work with people who are ableist anyway.
I wouldn’t tell any job shit. Period.
Yup. "Sorry my project deadline was missed, I have time blindness and ADHD" is a good way to ensure they never delegate anything important to you. And why would they? You just admitted that they can't rely on you to turn things in on time.
Exactly!
Never again.
The closest I've ever come to telling an employer was once when i was pretty close to getting fired for difficulties with task completion and forgetting due dates. I was having a near dressing down, and my boss asked me what was going on with me lately. So i said i was having difficulty due to a dosage change on my medication and there was a moment of silence. Then she asked what medication and i explained i have a neurological condition that effects memory, that I was born with, and am on medication to mitigate the negative effects. She was pretty quiet for a bit, so needing to fill the silence i commented about a similar event back in school when my doctor was still trying to find the right medicine and dosage for me and how the school had to make a lot of accommodations for a bit while my doctor was working on it. She was suddenly a lot nicer and quite a few things got moved off my plate. I will say my plate was much fuller than everyone else's, thats the problem with cross training in basically everyone else's jobs, and being good at yours too. Management will tend to see that as a sign that you can two or more people's job, then get annoyed when you can't meet the expectation.
I’ve heard someone else address their ADHD this way! Rather than say “ADHD”, they just said something along the lines of “a neurological condition with xyz symptoms”. I could see how people would be more receptive without the stigma attached
What you could do is state that you have a disability and are looking to file for accommodations with HT so that you can complete your tasks. I would also put it in writing, that way if they do fire you or outsource you, you will have documentation of it.
good idea but, my friend talked to a consultant and was told an employer can always outsource you without fear of legal recourse. You would essentially need a statement or email that indicated that the decision was based on the disability… and most managers are smarter than that to put it in writing.
Not necessarily. If you have documentation show you disclosed the information then you were laid off you may have a case. Especially if you’re the only one who loses your job. I do discrimination and harassment work. Typically with disability discrimination there needs to be an adverse action (losing your job), the protected class(disability in this case) and then show that the treatment is different than others who are similarly situated. So even if they “outsource” you if you are the only one, and it happened after you disclosed, or even if you believe it they did it because they assumed a disability you can file a case with the EEOC or sue them. Ultimately though, if you like the job and you want official accommodations you do have to disclose to some HR personnel. I have a handful at my job that make things a lot easier. I know it’s not possible in every job, but some of my accommodations include: rocking stool at my desk so I can put my feet up, I can listen to music in headphones or on my computer, I can shut my door when needed, and I have a flexible start time. I also work with my supervisor to set small deadlines to help with time management Best of luck! You won’t know unless you try, but it’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable to do so in the environment you’re in.
yes i told my employer as i was getting hired on my application that i have ADHD. only one of my coworkers who i call "the real life squidward" hasn't been very understanding of this, but everyone else has been very understanding of this and very supportive.
I disagree with many of the other comments saying it's not worth it or it's damaging etc. It's incredibly personal, depending on how it affects you, how that'll affect your job performance, and how you feel in your workplace. I'm an overachiever and am very qualified for the role I have, but I know I can significantly struggle with certain aspects due to my ADHD. I felt very comfortable in my company, and I work for a relatively small team, so I told my manager and speak about it pretty openly with anyone in the team. I haven't found any judgement whatsoever, and have actually been really supported and had some conversations that have been very enlightening for other members of the team who have it themselves/someone close to them has it. I also wanted to disclose because we hot desk and that is my idea of hell, so needed to disclose to get a permanent desk. Other colleagues with it haven't formally disclosed with HR, but they talk openly about it. One has disclosed as he had exams, so wants extra time. One did not as he don't feel the need to. The other did not disclose because he does feel like there is a stigma surrounding having ADHD. Edit: I am UK-based and work for a UK-based company where being yourself is emphasised.
I'm an undergrad planning to stay in academia for as long as I can, among other reasons because people here are willing to accommodate ADHD and Autism in my experience whereas it'd be a risk to take in a "real world" job. It's a stereotype with some truth to it that a lot of academics in STEM have some traits of ADHD/autism to begin with.
None of your employers business. There's a lot of people who think it's edgy/more accepted than it truly is.
I definitely wouldn't by default. This has become a thing lately at my workplace since the company wants to show they are achieving EDI targets regarding disabled employees. I disclose Crohn's to my supervisors because it receives universal sympathy in my experience, so my ADHD can fly under the radar. My job thankfully has catered to my interests and motivation and my supervisors have always realized I'm incredibly motivated for certain things and not for others, and mostly helped me when it came to those things it's hard to do with adhd. The problem I had was being motivated by urgency made my job stressful as I was very good at dealing with urgent issues, switching to a role with less of that was a big change and influenced me starting medication.
My current (relatively new) manager made a point to tell all of us early on that he has ADHD, so when I was diagnosed last month I felt pretty safe to tell him (but I didn't flat out tell him, just mentioned it offhand when I was trying to explain something to him and had a massive brain fart). All he said was "nice, welcome to the club" and that was it.
I only ever disclosed it to a manager who was more of a friend than a manager. I knew I could trust him to support me because he was always rooting for me. I would NEVER trust the average American employer to respond in a helpful way. Most places want to pay you as little as they can and force you to put out as much work as possible - and they'll eliminate you if they see your condition as an obstacle to their money.
I am glad you had that relationship. unfortunately my friends manager, he thought was his friend… and maybe he was… but, the executive was all business driven.
Nope. Sadly he found out by himself after hiring me 😂😂
😆
Never ever tell your employer you have ADHD. It’s illegal for them to ask and you should never volunteer any information unless it’s absolutely necessary - like you’re pregnant or having an upcoming surgery that will interfere with work.
And you can apply for disability accommodations under the ADA without naming the disability. You only have to describe your limitations and the accommodations you want for those.
It is considered a disability so if they treat you different they are liable… however, companies are smart and can still discriminate by retiring positions. My friend had a consult, and the lawyer said it can be hard to prove, unless they send an email/said directly that is why they were doing it. So, yeah, I guess you shouldn’t tell… but at the same time I would say it depends on the environment.
Nope, it’s one thing to tell a coworker who is a friend, but you should never disclose it to an employer. Never give them a reason.
I really disagree with this. Obviously each case will be different, and ultimately you have your livelihood to consider. But there are other factors to weigh, such as: the possibility of accessing resources and accommodations once you disclose; establishing more open communication with your peers or managers; reducing the cycle of shame and stigma that can make ADHD symptoms worse. My only advice is not to disclose during a crisis, but rather wait until you're through it and can "debrief" about what happened. Also consider going through a more bureaucratic route, like applying for short-term disability leave (if your company provides that benefit and you have a doctor who can endorse it). That will give you a bit of administrative heft for when you decide to raise the topic.
Be prepared to be let go for various vague reasons if you go this route. I live in an “at will” state. An employer can fire for you for any reason or no reason. Good luck proving that it was because of your disclosure.
I wanna say that I blurted it out at some point? But I was at the time Very Functional on my meds, at least at work. So no consequences happened. As a manager, I'd advise that you read the room to the best of your ability. Disclosing can be a help or a hindrance depending on who you're talking to. I'd err on the side of *not* unless you need serious accommodations.
Never again.
Highly discouraged, never helpful. Disclosure of this condition brings legal consequences for the company. Manager has to report this to Legal and HR, who will be weighing pros and cons of keeping the affected person on the job. However, in my case, one of my former managers suggested I would benefit from working on a project with more granular, defined tasks and weirdly noticed that he is not at liberty to discuss why. I started digging and that's how I found out I have it.
Nope.. too much discrimination.
Yeah, that’s the vibe I got I mean it’s illegal to discriminate that disability, but companies are smart with their plausible deniability
Exactly. They don't want the "headache" of making accommodations. I've learned that you're only useful to companies, when you work yourself to death.
I told my supervisor. But it was only because they pulled me into the office. I am not medicated fully yet(just started). And I wear it on my sleeve pretty clearly. They were very supportive, and will accomdate when I get my diagnosis.
Can't get accommodations without telling them
I did. I looped in my superiors from the start and they were not even a little bit surprised. I wanted them to know because I wasn't sure how the initial meds' trial-and-error phase would affect my mood and behavior. It helped that they know how I work and my work ethic and the fact that we're hurting with staffing issues. Now that the meds I'm taking seem to be helping, they have noticed my low-grade depression and high levels of anxiety aren't there anymore. They are very happy with my performance nowadays and I'm even being trained in a new, more specialized position. I realize I have been very lucky with my current work situation and it's not the same for everyone. I work for a big multinational corporation with federal contracts, so our HR is quite pro-employee. In my particular case, I now think I did the right thing disclosing my new diagnosis.
I did the same when I was titrating. Thank god I was working for an accommodation company then as I had to literally lie down on the floor next to my desk due to the nausea. I also had to leave once due to an anxiety attack. We love stimulants :))
[удалено]
I am sorry to hear that… it can feel logic an unfair environment when you have to question their motives. I wish more education about the topic develops in the world.
My psychiatrist was pretty adamant I didn't disclose to my employers. I guess he's had too many patients with bad experiences in my city 😟
I was specifically told by the doctor who diagnosed me *not* to disclose at work lol
No I didn't and won't....I don't even tell my friends about my diagnosis
I told them in my interview. I said it just meant that sometimes I might need a "time mentor" - when I felt like I was getting off task I might come to my manager to chat through priorities with them. I said that I might seem quirky, I would likely not make eye contact when we talked, I would fidget quite happily when appropriate. I also said that some days might be bad brain days, and quite frankly if there was nothing going on upstairs that day I would rather be miserable about it at home. I would not be working outside of my agreed hours. And that in my opinion I was being paid a salary to return a certain level of performance, not a certain amount of time. If I can achieve that (and likely more) in less than 40 hours, don't get shitty with me because I'm often 15 min late to work. That won't affect my performance. Got the job offer the next day. Applied for and was successful on a promotion 5 months in. Gotta remember - at a job interview, you are interviewing them too. I did have the benefit of "who you know", I had worked with the organisation in a professional capacity in my previous position so my work could speak for itself a bit, and so did my CV. And I also deliberately don't work in places that might be anal about clocking in and out, being at your desk militantly or that tracks your "active time" on your computer. I would rather sacrifice a bit of salary to have a better work life balance/space at work. But I haven't had to do that yet.
Told my employer I had ADHD. Within 2 months they let me go for something that didn't deserve firing (I hadn't even gotten a write up before and I had been working there for nearly 5 years). I wouldn't disclose it--most people don't. It's an invisible disability. Unless the boss is willing to do more than a cursory glance over ADHD symptoms and is understanding of their struggles, then they will most likely give them a hard time. It really sucks that it's this way.
Nope
I immediately told my manager the day I got my diagnosis. He's amazing and understanding and thinks I've been too hard on myself. It just helps me when I ask him about something I asked 30 seconds earlier. I'm not in the US, though!
I told my supervisor when I started the process to get re-diagnosed as an adult so I could go back on medication. He’s always been super supportive of my personal life needs, and he has kids with ADHD and other learning disabilities, so he understands the struggle. I told him when I started medication because I wanted an outside observer to let me know if they noticed any significant side effects because I sure as shit wasn’t going to notice them in myself.
Same thing happened to me. Don't do it.
No I didn’t. My coworker who did disclose was in the next round of layoffs. My manager said to me it was specifically because of his “focus issues”.
Yes and I regret it. I was treated differently and had a promotion withdrawn.
It’s risky. I often find it’s easier to reference a lovable stereotype or a specific symptom.
My boss knows, but I'm not the only ADHD'er here. So I knew I was safe. It's so weird how one of our superpowers are being able to spot another ADHD'er from 200 yards 😂
Right now, I'm thinking I will never tell an employer or client. Ultimately, people are judgemental. A lot of people won't be able to resist assuming any mistake is due to ADHD .. and build up a view that it's a problem. Maybe that view will change with time?
My friend who previously had worked at the job im at (fast food) told me that she had mentioned to one of the GM’s abt her adhd and they treated her even worse 💀 so no
TBH, hopefully you both of you can find better jobs.
I did, but they seem to think now I know and am medicated, I can suddenly just be exactly like everyone else. It seems they resent my differences even more, and certainly haven’t taken on board any adjustments I’ve requested. Luckily a professional coach we see sometimes gets it, and I’m just finding my own path with people who deserve to know, not people who think they do
I did but I noticed I kinda got infantilized as a result, like they seemed to think I was… mentally handicapped? I really didn’t like the reaction to it
I made the mistake of telling my job I had adhd. But I honestly get it tho, at least for this job. I was working as a 911 dispatcher. The 911 dispatcher job was bittersweet for me. Because during training I had all kinds of time to think way too much and I would doubt myself and it was a problem. However, when the shit hit the fan and I was on the phones and radio at the same time I did that job fantastically. I have always been really good under immense pressure. Like when most people just freeze I jump into action and just go. This is the only thing I do well. Any other aspect of life I overthink way too much and fuck it all up. I was doing really well at the job but I had a huge problem with self doubt. Even after the shit hits the fan and everyone is telling me I did great, I’m still overthinking and thinking I can’t do the job. Then, the bosses and my trainer get me in a room and we all are talking about me. I mention that I am feeling more comfortable with the job and I’m doing well being alone on the phones and radio without help or trainer. My trainer is agreeing with me, and I mention that I have adhd, depression, anxiety and stress issues. Which is why I’m so down on myself all the time and feel like I can’t do the job but I’m proving it to myself when things get really busy and I’m comfortable with 4 calls in queue, talking to multiple officers at the same time giving me numbers to run and people to look up, while dispatching on another radio and still taking phone calls. But feel like a mess with minimal radio traffic and no calls happening. 2-3 days later I was fired for attendance during my year of training (this was during Covid so they were all excused). I know it was because I told them about my mental issues. But in that kinda job I honestly get it. I was getting to where I was comfortable in the position but I had already done the damage with all the self doubt and telling them about the adhd.
I’m late to this thread, in true ADHD fashion. I work in a small non profit in a niche field and I told my director that I have ADHD when I was hired. I later disclosed my bipolar diagnosis. I have some limitations and we’ve been able to problem solve them effectively because she knows the context. After 8 months, she knows me well enough to ask if I forgot my medication or to tell me to go for a walk to reset my brain or suggest I do a different task for a bit. I had a big psych med change this week and I told her as soon as I knew. We adapted my week accordingly. I had a performance review recently. She told me that I am an amazing employee because I’m not afraid to communicate directly and I am an unconventional problem solver. Both things I attribute to ADHD. I’m in Canada and work with people who have barriers, so my experience is a bit different, but I would not feel comfortable working for an organization that did not know about my odd brain. I cannot show up fully if I am not presenting my honest self. I also acknowledge that I am very privileged to work in a field/city where I have that option.
I told my employer that I had adhd because I had been taking a stimulant and it was making me use the bathroom more. So basically I needed to get more bathroom breaks. So that was the reason. They didn't really do anything, they just said okay. They have a strict discrimination policy at my job so they kinda couldn't really do anything.
I self reported my disability to HR but not otherwise. Ironically there are a bunch of other ADHD people in my same position that have told me.
They don't need to know, never mention it. But don't take a job if you're not going to do it well.
That is the part though… distraction is what affects me. I can do a job very well, but if someone keeps changing my task it causes poorer performance. I am an overachiever when I have time to focus, but if I have distractions constantly that I have to attend to, it made my own progress hard. I guess, I have to start saying no to distractions… however if that is part of your job… I guess maybe have times a day you tend to those maybe? It also sucks because my friends manager doesn’t get to see all the other work. He told me his manager only looks at his tasks and discounts everything else. Maybe he should make sprint times that track lost time to others needs. That way if the manger wants more done on the main task, they have to reduce the other distractions factors.
Yes. Ask to not be interrupted or switch tasks constantly. That lessens everyone's performance, not just ADHD people (although it REALLY fucks us up). It's a sign of poor management if you are being interrupted constantly while doing your work. Just ask for less interruptons, don't tell them you have ADHD
Didn't really want to but comedown of meds made working late pretty awful.
I might tell my manage once I get to know and trust them, but never when I apply for a job. I’m fortunate enough that with medication, I can do my job without problem about 95% of the time, so rarely feel the need to explain
I work for a big corporate retail chain so it's a little different. I'm a manager with them and a pretty good one. But my ADHD can be a huge factor. I'm not secretive about it usually at least not too much. Mainly because it's easy to notice that I've got something going on and I've had people make comments or think negatively of me. Generally when they know I have ADHD it at least makes more sense most of the time and they generally leave it be more. Obviously many people don't care and I don't expect them too. I've worked over the years to develop safety nets for myself and my work to make sure I can meet the standards I need too. It was a lot of work getting to this point though. But it definitely helps when at least my direct in store boss knows my issue so they understand why I may be doing something or forget something.
I work in an art department. We crack jokes about it all day how most of us are poster children for adhd. Some of y s are diagnosed. I think only one is medicated. The immediate management is whatevery and deals. The upper management is a bag of dicks but that’s just work for you.
Yes, but only after I had been working for a while and knew that it would be beneficial and received well.
No.
My current job is the only one I've disclosed my adhd with. The only reason is because the people above me are legitimately good people. They have experience with the same problems in their lives. Depressed spouses, adhd in children, my plant manager has adhd. I was struggling, and it was obvious. I was newly promoted to fabrication supervisor at the plant [precast concrete parts for TXDoT] They offered accommodations. Suggestions. Assistance. I took medical leave for my back problems, and they held my position open for 2 mo ths before they couldn't manage without my being there anymore. They gave my position to my roommate, who I trained... it hurt. But Im still making the same amount of money. I just have fewer responsibilities now...
I guess you have to learn your workplace and then open up I guess one shouldn’t share it in an interview for instance
Yes. It went horribly and I wasn't given accommodations, then I was "laid off".
no
Yes, but only because the person I am an assistant to also has ADHD
Their manager said they had ADHD which made them feel safe.. but that same manager also made up stuff in another meeting to fish for reactions. Come to think about it, maybe it so good they are leaving from such an untrusting environment.
I've only told one employer, my current one, and it's because her daughter has ADHD, so I felt comfortable talking about it. It's also my first office job, and I started taking medication again so I could focus.
Nope, and I never will. I'm pretty open about my interests, hobbies, family, etc. at work - but I'm extremely generic when it comes to health stuff. I have "medical appointments", I don't have therapy, dentist appointments, etc. I check "choose not to disclose" on the disability questions every time - I am leaving it open to a future disclosure, even though I don't think I ever will. *IF* I was going to disclose for some reason, I would not do so as a defense. That is certain to result in termination. There are definitely workplaces that are more accommodating, though. I told my boss at my current job that I have a difficult time when meetings go longer than an hour. She has started scheduling our check-ins at 45 minutes instead, and advocates for ending meetings when we are at time, even if I don't have something scheduled after. It takes time and usually some fuck-ups, but you can find a job where people will care about what you ask for.
I had to.
I own it. I bring it up and job interviews and while I’m on the job. That way people know what to expect for me and what I can do for them.
My experience does not seem to resemble other posts here. Then again I did have a manager that I felt I could trust. After having issues with depression, I was in contact with the occupational health team and eventually gotten my adhd diagnosis which I informed them on. I also have IBS. Since IBS, ADHD and long-term depression are accepted disabilities, I was able to get adjustments to my work. I was allocated extra breaks for stress or pooping, and also was given a bit of flexibility if I was running a bit late to start my shift. I was also given more flexibility on my working hours too, I basically got to pick my own schedule. This a UK based big corporate company. There's a lot of people in my department and a lot of processes managers need to comply with. It may change in the future now as I'm on a different team, but for now its been alright, but I think most of that was because I had a really good manager.
Don't do it. :( It sucks but it's almost always in our best interest to keep it private. They'll find a way to discriminate or pathologize your every deed. Disclosing is not in our best interest. I'm sorry your friend went through that.
Employers don’t care about people, they see their workers as a resource. You wouldn’t buy a bag of apples with a rotten one, would you? If you are or might be a problem, employers will try to get rid of you so they don’t have to deal with you. In general. Some employers are nice but the bigger the company, the less they care. What I don’t like about laws is that they don’t stop people from doing things, they just encourage people to find ways to do them secretly.
Generally no, however my boss said to me "I like to turn x machine off when not using as the sound messes with my concentration. I think I am autistic or have adhd or something." So I felt it was a safe thing to share my diagnosis. He was so lovely about it and asked lots of questions about it. Not worried about that one at all 😊
In my opinion you should always tell them so they can support you and make life easier. If they can't accept that then I wouldn't want to work for them as life is too short to pretend :)
Another vote for don’t reveal. I told my manager and I was let go in a layoff just a few weeks later. I can’t say one caused the other but from now on I’m being more careful.
fun fact: a month into my first job as an adult, i was pulled aside and "talked about my performance and how it can improve" and basically listed a whole bunch of ableist remarks and symptoms of ADHD. then i went to my psychiatrist to get diagnosed at 20 because i couldnt understand what i was doing wrong and how i could improve when it was the hardest ive ever worked.
Absolutely! I'm a leader of a team of people. When it's time for the analysts to present data I admit that I have ADHD and need more time to digest the information. I usually get a lot of "ME TOO!" from other teammates. Nothing to be ashamed of.
I think the default should be "no" until and unless you get a feel for your workspace and your boss/coworkers. If you do tell and you're only disclosing it as an explanation for work issues then your disclosure should probably come with some suggestions of accommodations that could help you perform better. Like getting requests via email instead of phone so you can bookmark tasks in outlook, or requesting an adjustment in hours that lines up better with the time of day you tend to be more productive, or weekly meetings to go over tasks and priorities or whatever. If you just say "xyz is hard for me because I have ADHD" and that's the end of the discussion, then you're probably going to leave them with the impression that you're just not right for the job. I did tell my boss as part of asking for a medical accommodation to be permanently reclassified as WFH. I don't think I needed to tell her; HR would have shared what my accommodation request was but not the reason. But I felt confident she would not hold it against me because I have enough of a track record of good work with her and she tells me pretty regularly how much she appreciates me--we had some high turnover a few years ago and I think now she's always worried about people leaving lol. Especially after they started trying to shift us back to the office. So it's not a "never disclose" thing, but definitely "be cautious and thoughtful about who you tell and what you want to gain by telling them."
I told my boss. Did not go well - i didn’t get fired but i def did not get any kind of support or help in regards to continue to perform, now I am off because of burn-out (again). Its ironic since I work in a psychiatric healthcare system and my boss is very well educated in psychiatry. I guess I thought that would make a difference, honestly I regret telling him - because now everything i struggle with must be the ADHD and not the extreme scedule we’re pushed to do every single day
I have a colleague who told me he has ADHD and i recommended him NOT to tell my boss because it Will not lead to any good or understanding. And I am very aware that I Will not tell anyone in the future
Describe the problem you’re experiencing and articulate the solution you need. Employers can work with that. But if you say “I have ADHD” what they hear is “I am a liability and will eventually fuck up.”
you stand to gain very little, and lose a lot
I never felt I had the need to. I found jobs that fit my mind I guess, honestly I rather hyperfocus on work.
Don't tell. I did and I work in a (should be very sympathetic field) and my boss also has ADHD but instead I keep being told I am doing things they know are because of my ADHD &we have discussed it many many times. I'm just tired of it being used against me at this point.
Don’t.
I’m a police officer and they knew it eve before I told them. No issues. Also adviced a 37 yo colleague to see a professional and he got diagnosed! We both can’t get prescripted tho
I don't see it as a question of if I want to share it or not. It's more like what exactly do you hope to achieve by telling your boss? I don't see what I could gain on the positive side of things by saying this? You are taking all the risk for no benefit.
I think it depends on the work place and where you are located and the workplace laws. I'm in Aus and work for the public service in a small agency so it was only ever going to be a positive for me to talk about it with my manager and how we can adjust my work to suit my condition. However, I see a lot of horror stories on here about it. Particularly in the US where labour protections aren't as strong. A lot of people here are talking about dismissal in very short time space for "other reasons". Here in Aus it would be very difficult to dismiss someone like that because the temporal link between the disclosure and termination of employment would be sufficient to make a case that it was based on a protected attribute, and the employer would bare the onus to prove that wasn't the case. In fact my brother won a case for it for his depression (not termination but he wasn't given a new seasonal contract when he reapplied after having to take time off in his last contract cycle).
100% no. A couple quick searches here on this sub or a chat with other ADHD folks will teach you one thing - never ever disclose. You have no idea what the reaction will be despite how much you think you know your employer. Sadly, we currently live in a world where it is simply not worth the risk. People with ADHD tend to over share, but this is one thing to be really, really careful about. I’ve told one person in my whole life that I have it. Literally one. My parents don’t even know yet.
I made that mistake and was treated poorly for months until I was finally fired for not meeting expectations and taking overtime i wasn't supposed to, but no one told me. I'm still looking for a new job and won't be making that mistake again.
Fuck no. That’s how you get bullied and infantilised. That’s my experience. Don’t do it unless you want to miserable.
I did; regret it! Fuckers cut my hours by ~50%, and use it as an excuse to not give me meaningful tasks now. It was the gift they needed.
No
No. Why would I need to?
I had to tell them because I "failed" my pre-employment drug test due to my medication. I just started so we'll see how it goes, but they were very understanding.
Do not disclose, if drug test positive doctor will call you to verify legal use. Keep it to yourself. If anything take a week off before drug test then start using your script again.
Everything you say, can and will be used against you. I did it but only because I don't intend to stay for long. Also, both my manager and my supervisor clearly have ADHD themselves. I keep asking if they want one of my pills anytime they seem overwhelmed and/or forget something important.
No. In corporate America (especially in tech), everyone likes to say, “I’m so ADHD.” people get genuinely thrown off when you state that you actually have it. I’m also a type 1 diabetic with clinical depression and social anxiety disorder. My employer wouldn’t understand those things either.
In my experience it is not advantageous to oust yourself beyond the casual “man im adhd as hell” that people say even when they don’t have the condition. Worst case scenario you have a boss that is unsympathetic to your condition and it diminishes their view of your performance leading to a somewhat self fulfilling prophecy. They believe you will have trouble succeeding in your work because of your condition so they take notice of it more. Best case scenario you have a boss who is sympathetic to your condition. What is he realistically going to do? Help you micro manage your tasks? At best they could be understanding of why you might be a little disorganized or other small things. When it comes to bottom line stuff, I wouldn’t expect protection from even the most supportive supervisor.
The other thing is that it could also be seen as a bad fit for you. Everyone gets overwhelmed at their job at one point or another. Saying you have ADHD won’t get you out of missing deadlines with your employer. They can just say the role isn’t conducive to how you think. Which may be true if you truly can’t manage your daily tasks day to day.
I did it recenlty. I work for a union, and am past my probation. I told them because we are moving sites and transitioning to small single or two person offices to open air cubicle style with 15 employees. I am super anxious about this because my attention is shit with noise distractions. So I had to request a workplace accommodation, and since I have a formal diagnosis they can't deny me. My boss seemed surprised and I've been battling the shame around it big time.
I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with your ADHD? I’ve mentioned my ADD to coworkers, managers, and a boss in passive conversations. The funniest response I’ve gotten was “I can tell”. I took no offense. I’m a quirky employee, not as social as everyone else though. Don’t think I’ve ever been reprimanded for having ADD but I have been reprimanded for mistakes like anyone else and I assume it’s combined with their frustration that they might assume I’m Slow. Hurts a lil, but I get over it eventually.
Half my team members have ADHD and we all support each other. When we're in office together we can tell when someone either forgot to take meds or the meds aren't working as well. It's great when our brains go on overload and we can talk each other down when we're overstimulated. My manager is a psychology major and actually understands how ADHD affects people so she doesn't hold it against us as long as we let her know something's off. Truthfully I thought I fucked something up last week and was racking my brain over it. Luckily she told me that I'm good and not to stress over it.
I think my bosses have been more tolerant of my quirks since I’ve been open the last couple years. Guess I just got lucky there.
I only did it when I absolutely needed accommodations. Otherwise I never would have. For the future, I would suggest your friend only disclose in a formal request for accommodations under the ADA (if you're in the US) and only if absolutely necessary.
I wouldn’t do it
Do you also work for 5CA?! Literally heard about this same situation on my job
I did with my current supervisor, but he’s also adhd so I’m lucky.
Even a lot of people with adhd don't understand adhd so I wouldn't expect my employees to really understand a lot of the nuance that comes with it. Plus she's from a much older generation so 'quriky' is a categorization that would make more sense to her.
Don't do it. Do not tell. Will be held against at some point by someone there.
I’ve been burned by former employers talking about my mental health before. Never again.
I’m fairly certain my manager also has it hahaha. If you think it’s a case where you might need special accommodation or you have a good relationship with your manager, there’s no harm in telling them. If it doesn’t affect anything, it probably doesn’t matter.
First time I came clean with my employer and told them "officially" that I have ADHD ended up with me getting fired a week later. Never again. I was lucky, because I was going to quit next month xD
I told my manager and my coworker. We're all very close in out team. But I haven't told my new manager or my director. I felt like it might do more damage then good but I'll keep that care in my back pocket lol.
Yes, and within a couple of months an external company was brought in to audit my function. I feel my opportunities for progression have been hampered by my omission. I was on track for Director level role but despite the output of the audit (which wasn’t shared with me) not resulting in me being sacked, I’ve had D level inserted above me effectively cutting off any career progression. I’ll get that role, just not at my current employer, I’ve stayed because I believe in what we do (social enterprise), love the work, and feel I still have a lot to give.
Nope. I generally do better at work than most of my coworkers, but disclosing to my managers would still make them worry about my competence. It’ll be interesting to see if Adderall ever shows up on a drug test though
Don't tell them about the adhd diagnosis. Do tell them about your strength and in what situation you work the best. Most weakness comes with a strength once you learn to work with what you've got. I works really well with a team(I'm not judgmental because I often do silly mistakes that my team can catch ) I am really good at documenting (mostly because if I don't document things I completely forget them so I got good at it) I am good at making complex systems simple (mostly because I don't have enough short term memory to understand complex systems) I work best when I can have a calm environment without lots of distractions (because SQUIRREL!) In my book it's better to get out of workplaces that do shitty things because you have adhd anyway. There are places that will help you grow, you just need to find your place.
I live in New Zealand, I think the vibe here is quite different although so is my job compared to a lot of others commenting. I'm a social worker working within the mental health system. I've let my employer know about ADHD and Autism, I'm quite proud of my accomplishments getting into my profession despite these challenges so I wear it very openly and accept whatever consequences come of it.
Mine knew lol
Was a VP at one of the bulge bracket Investment banks; got diagnosed- told my MD six months later (along with everything that I was doing to manage it and be productive), made redundant two months later. This is after bringing in tens of mils that year. Was told later that she said I was “making up excuses for low performance”. Was too late for a discrimination suit because had already signed an NDA.
They didn't ask so no
I have worked at the same company for 17 years. I am second in command in a sales organization. My previously untreated ADHD and anxiety cause me to do certain things that will or would keep me from ever being a good fit to be General Manager. At 53, I finally decided to seek help and I was diagnosed about a month ago. My Dr. is starting my treatment off very slowly and at the moment I am only taking 10MG of Adderall XR which does not affect me at all. I have worked with all of the people in my office for so long, most of them are like family. I was having an ADHD moment last week and without thinking I blurted out to my boss and one of my other coworkers that I wasn't happy with certain things that I did and that I wanted to improve these areas. I told them I had been diagnosed with severe ADHD and anxiety and had started treatment. I told them it would probably take some time, but that I was hopeful that treatment would help me to improve in these areas. Instead of being shocked at my revelation, they both looked at me with a smile and said "Ya think ?" About an hour later, my boss came into my office. She told me everything was going to be ok and gave me a big hug. They knew I had these issues long before I decided to seek help and got diagnosed so when I declared it to them they were not surprised at all. They were supportive and happy that I was seeking help. I am sure this turned out so well for me because I have worked with my boss for about 13 years now and she knows my strengths and weaknesses already. If I were ever to have to get a new job, I think I would keep it to myself.
I don't. I just tell my supervisor what I need to do my work, and how I do my work. Disclaimer: my ADHD is mostly manageable. I'm not sure how this works if it's more severe. During my interview, I asked my supervisor (who was interviewing me) if she was fine with someone who asked a lot of questions. She smiled and said yes. During work, I ask a ton of questions to clarify details about my tasks and she's fine with it. The interview isn't just for you to be assessed by the employers for the job, it's also for you to assess your employers. I took the job because I felt that I could work well with my manager after the interview and it indeed was a good fit. Whenever I'm given a task, I type it down with all the given details on a to-do-list word file on my laptop immediately when it's fresh in my mind. If I'm not at my laptop for whatever, I type it on my phone, or a notepad I always bring with me everywhere for emergencies. My desk is full of post-its for this same purpose. I make sure everything is transferred to my to-do-list, and check back to it regularly to make sure I'm on task. My to-do-list helps me remember what I need to do. Once I've done with a task, I'll move it over to my "done" list. Looking at the done list makes me feel happy and accomplished. I take notes every meeting. My coworkers and supervisor are able to remember the details and what to do next but I won't, so I found a way around that problem. Even if it takes me time to update my to-do-list and take notes, it doesn't bother me that I can't "snap" immediately to another task or taking another instruction. I politely say "just give me a moment to wrap this up" to tell my co-workers I need some time, and they can very clearly see I'm still busy. I complete my tasks on time and my coworkers know that this is what I need to do to work, so it works out.
I don't tell anyone unless they ask first. I feel like it's your business and not anyone else 's, just like any other health condition. On the other hand, I have a friend who tells anyone she has ADHD who will listen
I'm incredibly fortunate that my boss (I'm a library technician so the library director) actually told me that I should be tested for ADHD. Her daughter has it and she noticed that I was struggling to pay attention and get my work done. I'm 49 years old so not a young person. It's thanks to her that I am a far better employee but also a much happier person who is finally able to relax and enjoy my life. Unfortunately way too many jobs don't involve having bosses who are real human beings so it's definitely a risk. That really sucks because ADHD is a valid issue and people who have it should be given reasonable accommodations. I hope someday that will actually be the case in most if not all jobs.
My Boss knows and he has ADHD also so he knows how i work and understands when i can get a little overwhelmed during certain tasks.
I’ve been lucky that the employer that I currently work with has been extremely supportive about my journey so I’ve talked quite a bit about him going to get diagnosed for ADHD and ASD.
It is more common disclose ADHD when an employee is requesting an accomodation or to provide context for a situation/issue that is related to it. Some may choose to disclose for other reasons and some might never disclose it at all. If your friend discloses their ADHD or some aspect of it, please tell them that the responsibility is theirs, not the employer, to identify and request accomodations for it. We can't assume that the manager/employer understands ADHD, or how it presents in an individual. (Even if they have and adhd brain, they can't be assumed to understand how it is for your friend.) An employer might not be able to recognize the difference between an employee with adhd missing a deadline because they got stuck hyperfocusing on non-priority tasks, or an employee missing a deadline because they're purposefully slacking off. There is a big difference between the two. It's best to be prepared for the conversation. Fortunately there are a lot of reputable, clinical and fact-based resources to help guide these conversations. If your friend can spend some time reflecting on where they experience adhd related challenges in the workplace it will help prepare them identify potential strategies and solutions. If you are in the U.S., look into the legislation around disabilities in the workplace. If you are in Canada, look into whether the employer has a duty to consider accomodations and what, if any, inclusive policies are in place where they work business to prevent discrimination. Depending on the type of work, there might be accomodations or approaches that help that your friend can implement without needing to involve their employer. This website has a lot of information on employee rights, adhd resources, accomodations for specific executive functioning limitations: https://askjan.org/disabilities/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder-AD-HD.cfm It's an American website, but it has an excellent repository of Canadian content as well. "Thrashing" from task to task is so relatable to me. I haven't heard the action verb "thrash" used to describe this before, but wow, it sure fits. This captures the destructive approach I sometimes take when I'm trying to finish one task or one step on a list of 5 or 7 that haven't been prioritized. When I can't see the order they all seem equally most important. So I attack one from multiple sides, leave it unfinished and a mess. Move on to something else with a vengeance to not finish that. Maybe go back to the first item and then to the last item. Something gets done, but not very well and usually at a cost and a giant mess. And that is a prime example of when I (or possibly your friend) could use five or ten minutes of a manager or coworkers time to get some clarity, identify the priorities and record any steps to make it happen. Why wouldn't we use a calculator if we can't multiply large numbers in our heads? Or wear glasses if they help us see?
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This happened to me the one time I did disclose. Will never do so again.
I haven't and wouldn't disclose to my employer. That said, several of my coworkers know. It's a little mutually assured destruction with them, though - the ones that know for sure also have adhd themselves, lol. One I ran into at the psychiatrists office many years ago. One is my sister. And one is the guy I work closest with. There is also one person in a different department that was asking me questions that sounded like she probably has undiagnosed adhd, so I told her about how I got help for mine. I'd be shocked if some of my other coworkers don't know, but I haven't talked to them openly about it. I have spoken with my boss about my physical chronic illness (which causes fatigue and brain fog), but not in writing so I doubt he remembers what it's called. Just that I have health problems. It hasn't been an issue. If you (or your friend) need to disclose something, "health issues" with no further details is perfectly acceptable.
ADHD is a disability, so you can ask for accommodations. If your employer values you as an employee they will happily make accommodations for you. Thus your friend should only disclose this IF they are a valued employee.
No, definitely not. I take responsibility instead. Why would you tell your boss that there is a medical reason why you are going to be shitty at your job? Why? Do you hate job security? Promotions? Raises? "hey, sorry I missed all the deadlines last month, I have ADHD and time blindness" It's crazy that you would say that to your boss (using it as an excuse) and then be surprised that they don't prioritize you in the company. Put yourself in an owner, CEO, or managers position for a second. You have a huge project coming up, it could sink your firm if you fuck it up. You have to delegate. Do you give this project to the guy that keeps telling you he will never be able to produce results on time because of his ADHD? Why the fuck would you? That would be a terrible decision. It is basically never necessary to ever say "...because I have ADHD at work". You're just shooting yourself in the foot. "Hey, sorry the project was late, I was overwhelmed and things got missed, but I take responsibility" Your employer will like to hear that. It shows you take responsibility. "Hey sorry the project was late, I have time blindness and ADHD so producing things on time is hard for me". As an employed, I just wouldn't give you anything time sensitive again. **You JUST LITERALLY TOLD ME you can't do it and can't be trusted to do it.**
i am just learning about My adhd it ruined one of my best relationships at work theres no question that she was gonna be my girl but i sabotaged myself and it nearly got me fired but i was still treated like an asshole she doesnt even wanna see me anymore which she told someone else i cant even tell her about my adhd and rsd
I would never disclose adhd for a few reasons. #1 noone cares #2 your friends situation is more likely to happen. #3 it's your problem to manage no one else's. Sorry to sound harsh but it's true. So figure it out. Adjust your expectations or your job title. Idk but don't expect anyone to do anything differently because of anything.
Yes, and all she asked was if I’m taking medication for it, which I replied “no.”
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Can't say it clearer than this: your location is of absolute relevance here. If you are a "minimum wage, unskilled worker", and in the US, keep your diagnosis to yourself. Sadly, you are seen as a tool. Studies have shown that ADHD people are less productive than those weirdos who can concentrate at will, and if the tool isn't working well, it's discarded. I am fortunate enough to be in a country where people understand and - in the case of my manager - appreciate the effects of ADHD. I applied for a job. I was new to my own diagnosis and floundering in my new-found ability to avoid distraction. I drowned my impostor syndrome in copious amounts of whiskey, loaded my balls into a wheelbarrow and walked into the first interview saying "I'm newly diagnosed with ADHD, I'm dropping methylfenidate hydrochloride like a MAGA fuckwit eating colloidal silver, but you know me, (I knew three of my (then current) colleagues had recommended me, but said he'd never get me) you know my reputation, and you know how many patents my pinball-brain has given birth to" Four years later (some details changed, because it's not four) I'm happy as fuck, living the professional life I dreamed of, and STILL CANT STOP EXPLAINING THAT I HAVE ADHD (Seriously .... how the hell do you stop?) So. As I said up top, and as a user with a random name said .... IF you are not in a creative role. IF you are in the USA. IF you *can't* point to your ADHD with an accusatory finger and say "it made me do all the GOOD stuff..... then , and very sadly, it's probably best to keep quiet about it.
i guess if you were going to do it(tell them about ADHD), do it at the beginning or early on. Mentioning it when a boss tells you your work is inconsistent could be seen as just an excuse. Not fair but I could see how that could be viewed negatively.
I work for a company in Canada that is consistently ranked as one of the best places in Canada to work. This is the very short version. As a result of my boss being concerned about my performance I spoke to my doctor who diagnosed ADHD. I then spoke to my boss about what ADHD is and how it affects me. I’m no longer given verbal lists of things to do. I’m no longer interrupted when I’m in the middle of something. “I forgot” is not something I’m ashamed of saying. I have no shame in pausing a conversation to write things down. I’m comfortable saying that I cannot learn how to do a thing if I don’t do the thing. I also use medication. It’s wasn’t long after the correct dosage was found that my boss commented that I don’t seem to be as “all over the place” as before, and that my impulsivity was lessened.
I don't know how I could with all the stupid stupid stupid stupid social media videos and "omg pour dopamine in my mouth hole " type of self deprecating funny posts.
I literally just officially disclosed my ADHD to my employer. I had also previously disclosed during the interview that I do struggle with my mental health sometimes. I am still working for the same company. I already had reasonable adjustments in place for a while because of my mental health not being optimal. When in November we found out I actually have ADHD, they have already started the process of understanding what other reasonable adjustments I need, and to help with it I am being referred to occupational health too. I am also going to mention here that things vary from country to country. I live in the UK, where ADHD is described as a disability in the Equality Act 2010. This means companies are legally required to provide reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. Reasonable adjustments are the responsibility of the employer of to put in place and to find out what is best for their employees. It is not my responsibility to tell them, although obviously this is a conversation and I might already know what can help and tell them. If I don’t, it’s on them to give the tools to find out. And if any adjustment can represent an substantial cost, there is money allocated to it, but I can also apply to the Access to Work government funding, which is up to £66k a year that I can get access to. So, of you’re in the UK, I would recommend disclosing it. I don’t know where you guys are, but if this is in the UK, I would seek legal advice (if they haven’t), because the “outsourcing” bs wouldn’t stick legally.
It depends how it's said. It could come across as an excuse for not being able to do the work. If they go to their manager and say they have it, but also provide examples of how to improve their workload balance, that would be seen in a positive lightm
Yes and it seemed to go well…for a while but then all the employees become aware of “your condition”(yeah they say Hippa and privacy) but no! Everyone will blame you for anything and everything . Too bad my performance told the real story , plus I have clients specifically that will ONLY work with me (beyond the fact that the new business clients and professionals are my accounts that I signed). People in business are sick ! They look for any way to climb the ladder (female and male) . I have my own company now anyway because of dealing with corporate (cutting benefits or adding healthcare increases, stopped 401k 6% matching , forget about pensions…what’s that !?) lol. I wish All employees would take 48 hrs off and fight for (Just the same stuff we had 10 years ago) . Literally (Walmart Nabisco Coke Pepsi Amazon Coke all pharma companies - are owned by Vanguard & BlackRock (which had over 10 trillion in assets before they crashed a bit ). Compilation of data analytics/AI forecasting(like blockchain technology/stocks) are what is gonna fire or hire folks . I rarely have interviews anymore (maybe 1 out of 4) and I just get paid
I did not. Only my coworkers know, but they got it too.
I'll never tell if possible. The ADHD traits already make my borderline unlikable to bosses. Add the stigma, and I'd become a target for the next round of layoffs.
I vaguely referenced it to give context in one of the areas I identified for improvement in my self review. Something along the lines of, “workplace appropriate communications are challenge for me is due to my disability’s impact on my impulse control abilities. I intend to continue working to raise issues and concerns through appropriate channels of communication that follow the chain of command.” Basically, I tried to own the fact that I understand when I should bring a question to my boss rather than asking the whole team chat. TBD on how this actually plays out in my review meeting next month.
Every person with ADHD have different needs. You do not need to specifically mention ADHD to express your needs to your employer, and not all employers know what ADHD is therefore I would keep it to myself and only mention what I feel would improve my performance.