The City & Guilds’ Neurodiversity Index 2024 highlights significant challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.
- Half of the surveyed neurodivergent employees missed work in the past year due to inadequate support.
- A significant 36% of these employees receive no guidance or assistance, with 20% waiting for necessary adjustments.
- Despite their challenges, less than half prioritize disability and inclusion policies, a slight decrease from last year.
- Progress is observed in organizational strategies for inclusion, yet many workplaces still lack a centralized commitment.
The recently published City & Guilds’ Neurodiversity Index 2024, conducted in partnership with Do-IT Solutions, underscores the substantial difficulties that neurodivergent individuals encounter in professional settings. Half of those surveyed reported absenteeism due to insufficient workplace support. This data reveals a pressing need for organizations to bolster their support systems.
In an alarming finding, 36% of neurodivergent employees indicated receiving no guidance or support, with 20% expressing that they are still awaiting necessary workplace adjustments. Such statistics indicate a significant gap in the provision of adequate resources and accommodations for neurodivergent individuals within their work environments.
Despite these challenges, less than half of the respondents consider disability and inclusion policies a priority, a decline from 53% previously. This suggests a need to enhance the importance placed on inclusivity and support measures among both employees and employers.
However, there is evidence of positive change; 40% of organizations now implement alternative application processes, and 44% have established neuro-inclusive strategies, marking an increase from the previous year. This growth reflects an ongoing shift towards more inclusive practices, although a third of surveyed workplaces still lack a cohesive strategy for commitment.
A new focus within the Index relates to the impact of work structures on parents caring for neurodiverse children. While 33% of organizations plan to introduce accommodations, 28% have yet to make any provisions. The report incorporates suggestions aligned with the Buckland Review of Autism Employment, advocating for the integration of inclusive practices during recruitment and providing comprehensive onboarding processes.
The Neurodiversity Index 2024 highlights both progress and critical gaps in workplace support for neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the need for continued advancement.
