Betrayal in the workspace
would any of you stay at a job if someone there betrayed you or was not clear with the tasks required of you?
My current job backstabbed me and replaced me. When I told them I was autistic they let me come back to work. I think they are merely trying to avoid a lawsuit. Regardless, now that I am back it just isn't the same anymore. Everyone treats me like a child, and the atmosphere has changed. I don't like it. I plan to stay until I have a plan for my smooth departure into another job.
I was thinking of becoming a software engineer or software tester by enrolling in mindsparktech.com
I went above and beyond the work assigned as a Disabled Technology Program Specialist. I'm moving to the private sector where I can be appreciated more. This is the second time I have been laid off or placed on hold by NT.
First, thanks for the link to MindSpark; never heard of them.
Yes, I've been 'betrayed'. At work ... and personally. NT's will take advantage of you to no ends if you let them. They will under-pay you, they will replace you, they will steal your work, they will take credit for your ideas, they will bypass you for earned and deserved promotions, they will gossip about you, etc., etc..
I won't even begin to tell you my story where I learned all of this the hard way.
But you do need to look at it from the vantage of a very, very competitive world. If you view (unfortunately) the workplace as being full of the most internally competitive (unfortunately) people imaginable (unfortunately), you'll do much better (unfortunately).
Sorry, but I would suggest that you do not trust NT's, ever. I only knew one NT in my life I could trust without being afraid to.
I would also suggest that you refrain from telling NT's at work that you're AS. Also, this fact could follow you around, even if you later don't wish it to. Wait until you find out if the boss or CEO is first. It seems like MindSpark might be a good option, though I haven't looked into them yet.
Would people stay at such a job? Would they want to? Do they have an option? Yeah, hold on and get a different job, and chalk this up to personal experience.
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- Archetype
I agree with pretty much everything Archetype said, but I would replace "NTs" with "people." Sometimes a person who seems to be NT isn't and you can't always put your trust in someone because you seem to be on the same side. I mean, that sounds pretty bleak, but it's best to be careful. I'd stay there just long enough to get another job.
I don't want to hijack this thread but I'm doing a study on this same subject. It's in this section, under Autism Disclosure in the Workplace. Part of my purpose in working on this is that there is lots of literature about what the poor disabled autistic worker can't get right, but save for a couple of sentences in a 2004 article (I can email this to anyone who wants it, just ask for the 2004 Hurlbutt and Chalmers), there is nothing about how neurotypical workers manipulate and bully their autistic bosses, employees, and co-workers, who usually are model employees.
I have had horrendous betrayals in the workplace. I've felt need both times to play it out until I secured further employment.
Here's what I've taken from it:
× Your work colleagues don't want you showing them up so don't outshine them in terms of ideas &/or speed. If you're lucky enough to learn the ropes easily don't focus on them, concentrate on the corporate culture and mimic it.
In applying the above to my job of 4 years I've had a breeze of a time. I consider myself somewhat of an actor rather than my actual job title. Funny as I hate the stage. Work is easy, everyone else's pace is half what I would naturally go at. I agree with the right people and have developed genuine relations with a few colleagues. I slipped up once and was told I'd have been fired had the company not been investigated by a Government body; my anal approach in said instance apparently saved them a law suit - go figure. I just said "I hadn't realised I'd made a mistake and was so glad they'd told me". This was met with a smile from the Boss and a pat on the back as I left. In watching her, I'd got her number - she was horrified I was right and she was wrong, choosing the response of a simpleton was just what she needed to feel better. I was advised at one point by another Boss early on that the company tells you it wants ideas during training sessions but not to give any as it annoys the Trainers. They were horrible to me before I took this advice on board. On the training feedback forms I always say something like "really informative day" just to get my kiss butt quota in. Works like a dream and I don't even have to think about ways to improve our service. I don't care that I'm not myself with people I know would horrible to the real me. I'm relieved to have them off my back and a ridiculously easy, stress free job. Good luck in your next role x
Here's what I've taken from it:
× Your work colleagues don't want you showing them up so don't outshine them in terms of ideas &/or speed. If you're lucky enough to learn the ropes easily don't focus on them, concentrate on the corporate culture and mimic it.
In applying the above to my job of 4 years I've had a breeze of a time. I consider myself somewhat of an actor rather than my actual job title. Funny as I hate the stage. Work is easy, everyone else's pace is half what I would naturally go at. I agree with the right people and have developed genuine relations with a few colleagues. I slipped up once and was told I'd have been fired had the company not been investigated by a Government body; my anal approach in said instance apparently saved them a law suit - go figure. I just said "I hadn't realised I'd made a mistake and was so glad they'd told me". This was met with a smile from the Boss and a pat on the back as I left. In watching her, I'd got her number - she was horrified I was right and she was wrong, choosing the response of a simpleton was just what she needed to feel better. I was advised at one point by another Boss early on that the company tells you it wants ideas during training sessions but not to give any as it annoys the Trainers. They were horrible to me before I took this advice on board. On the training feedback forms I always say something like "really informative day" just to get my kiss butt quota in. Works like a dream and I don't even have to think about ways to improve our service. I don't care that I'm not myself with people I know would horrible to the real me. I'm relieved to have them off my back and a ridiculously easy, stress free job. Good luck in your next role x
Wow. This made me sad to read, because this is exactly how we should all behave to make our lives at work easier.
Sad that you have go to these great lengths to deal with idiots and bullies. But you're exactly right, these methods you describe are brilliant. And it wouldn't just work for people on the spectrum. If I had behaved that way when I was working I would have done much better.
Thanks for clarifying. Your initial response had me wondering if my new approach is what everyone else has been doing all these years. There's a good chance many do.
As I got into the swing of my new approach to work, four Colleagues individually advised they had thought I was a Reporter or Government employee looking to expose poor working practices. I found that fascinating and a good indicator that my new style was working. Goodness knows what previous Colleagues have all been thinking.
I hope the original poster is able to move on soon. The nonsense you're going through just now was soul destroying to me. It was good to hear the thread had lifted you.
Do you think you may try change your approach in your next job or are you planning to proceed as before?
I have a side interest in something called cognitive dissonance theory. When a fault is pointed out to someone who should have seen it, especially if that person has been putting in a lot of time and effort that now seems unnecessary or stupid because of this fault, their tendency is to find a reason to justify their behavior and defend the fault. That's a terrible explanation. The link in bold is better. But this is why people often don't like it when someone else helpfully points out an error that would save them time, money, and efforts.
But yeah I didn't mean to sidetrack the thread. Can we have an update on the situation from the OP?