Kent-based main contractor, Baxall Construction is ‘Doing it Differently’ once again as it works together with Loch Associates Group and the National Federation of Builders (NFB) to tackle the stigma surrounding neurodiversity.
In a world where there are constant obstacles to overcome, neurodivergent people experience this the moment they step foot into the education system, with some of them impossible to achieve. This is carried through to the workplace where individuals deal with these daily.
Now, imagine a workplace where neurodiversity was only seen as a strength, where employees could thrive in an environment tailored to them. Baxall understands the hurdles that neurodivergent people face and they’re keen to address this - looking at how working practices can be improved so employees can harness their full potential and create a more inclusive workforce.
In the past, Loch Associates Group, in particular their Managing Director and Employment Law Solicitor, Pam Loch has highlighted the need for employers to take a different approach so that not only neurodivergent workers thrive, but their employers do too, while ensuring employers comply with their legal obligations if the worker has a disability under the Equality Act 2010. The growing awareness of the need for change has led to organisations like the National Federation of Builders commissioning and publishing a report on neurodiversity in the construction industry.
In the 2023 NFB report, in collaboration with the CITB, it highlighted how common neurodivergence is amongst construction workers, with one in four considering themselves to be neurodivergent. This compares to the estimation that one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent.
ADHD was most common, accounting for 54% of all those neurodiverse workers. Interestingly, being neurodiverse made people more, rather than less likely to want to work in the construction sector, with 67% of workers saying they believed that the sector is able to support neurodivergent employees.
The report discovered that 80% of respondents who had told their employer that they were neurodivergent had adjustments made to help them at work. However, concerns remain around the stigma surrounding neurodivergent workers, with 36% of workers not telling colleagues about their neurotype, and 38% of respondents believing there is no, or limited, empathy for neurodivergent workers.
https://builders.org.uk/neurodiversity-report/
The NFB report considered the working experience of neurodivergent workers and found that they could have challenges with motor co-ordination, social interaction, working memory as well as personal organisation and sensory sensitivity. Businesses are built on people, their interaction and relationships with one another.
When a neurodiverse team lacks shared understanding and does not accommodate, there is likely to be a communication breakdown and a misunderstanding from both sides. It is vital to understand the differing needs of your workforce, to accept the differences that will naturally exist and work on a genuine culture of understanding and empathy. Training your workforce to raise awareness is critical.
The physical environment can have a huge impact on the working day, with sensory considerations like lighting, noise, ventilation, temperature, layout, and even smells being easily adjusted or worked around to accommodate individual needs. Neurodiversity policies can play an important part in neuroinclusion, setting out expectations for neuroinclusivity.
Creating a neuroinclusive environment is not a tick-box HR exercise – it’s a business commitment and approach that is championed from the very top, with the benefits being felt at all levels of an organisation. Baxall is at the beginning of its journey, learning from various sources like the NFB and Loch Associates Group, and benefitting from their support, advice and training on how to create an organisation that the whole team at Baxall can be proud to be a part of.
We need to level up and dismantle the discrimination and stigma neurodivergent workers face, to create inclusive workplaces which enable our people to excel and thrive in their roles, after all, great minds don’t all think alike.
www.baxallconstruction.co.uk
www.lochassociates.co.uk
https://builders.org.uk
