Need advice for Aspergers test my Employer wants me to do.

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I recently got a job which hasn't started yet. Since it was working with Vulnerable people, they had to all your typical red tape stuff, fine, Then they wanted to do a medical examination where I told them I have Aspergers. The doctor said I was ok to work,, took a bit longer, but it's ok.
Now the same doctor wants me to do a test to see if I can do my Job due to my Aspergers which I couldn't have been more clear. Barely affects me (low end of spectrum) By this point, it has been several months since I was offered the job. Now they are telling me that if I cannot pass this test, I'm unfit to work and will have my job taken away. Despite the job clearly being offered based on my referees checking out which they did. now I'm sick to death and bored to tears of doing nothing (can't really commit to anything such as a holiday in case they want something) and have not had any money coming in since i finished sixth form in May. ( thankfully i live at home still and have 18th birthday money saved up) Worst of all, since all this complete waste of my time has gone on for months now, I've missed the August induction for this job and judging by the company's website, the next batch of people they are hiring is in december and due to red tape, they won't start until January and Feburary, this has led me to believe that the next induction, as they tend to do groups of people, won't be till January which means I'll have been waiting for 8 months.

So I ask: What can I do about this?

Well, we don't know what country you are in, and what the laws and social expectations are in your country, or your region in your country. It doesn't sound like you are in the States. It also sounds like they don't want to hire you. I don't know what your rights are because I don't know the ins and outs of legal-eze outside the U.S. Maybe tell your parents what you told us and ask them if they think you should apply somewhere else.

I'm no legal expert and I might be talking out of my nether regions here, but just for what it's worth, that "Aperger's test" that, if failed, means you can't have the job, doesn't sound entirely lawful, to me. I'm wondering if that breaks some kind of law concerning fairness in hiring and the avoidance of prejudice against hiring someone with Asperger's, particularly since you already told them upfront, and you also are minimally affected since you're on the lighter end of the spectrum, rather than severely affected.


If I were you, I would look into this and try to get expert advice on whether they're permitted to do this or not.


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This is precisely why I DON'T DISCLOSE.

I don't want to be put through this crap. I want to prove that I could do the job ON THE JOB.

There is no 'test' for AS. Its a spectrum condition.

If you know the DSM, you also know how to fake it. Make eye contact, talk about your friends, make small talk, etc...

You mention sixth form so I am guessing you are in England. You should seek help from Citizens Advice Bureaux as it sounds like a case of Disability Discrimination to me.

Exactly. Years ago, I learned that those pre-employment lists of "medical conditions" that applicants are expected to complete in detail have less authority to expect my private information than I do to protect it. So, knowing that such lists are simply a way for an employer to predict its possible future legal and medical liability if, for example, I happened to have epilepsy and something I or my employer did caused a seizure, I chose to provide only my medical conditions which would inform my employer about how to help me if I was unconcious, inarticulate, in shock, etc. They didn't need to know that I broke my arm when I was a kid because that knowledge is irrelevant to any medical attention I might need from them. The list was suddenly a lot shorter and friendlier to my interests when I turned the tables and answered in ways that would help me, not their lawyers.

Can't you go to the CAB or something. I don't get it, never heard of any 'fit to work' aspergers test before. I would've thought your doctor's diagnosis would cover it. That diagnosis would state what level you are. Madness if you ask me. I've wouldn't disclose it personally. Not because I would try and hide it. Because I don't really consider it an illness or sickness or disability. If I can do a job I can do it, nothing to do with being limited or not by aspergers.

Saying that I would never apply for jobs that deal with the public like call centres or sales etc. I'm not the best at person to person stuff

Hope it works out for you, sounds like a nightmare

Exactly what I was thinking reading your post, OP. Sounds like they're looking for an excuse to discriminate against you.

Keep us updated, OP, on what happened.

I don't believe one should disclose AS to employers.

I am sure that if I disclose to an employer I would never find a job again. It is hard to find counseling for an aspie in this country and even harder to find a comprehensible boss that tolerate my perks.

The only reason I have been able to keep this job is because I am kind of overqualified for it and accept the salary.

I don't see what sort of medical test could be used to determine whether you could, or could not, do a certain job.

The same level of scrutiny and assessment should apply to all candidates (AS and NT) to determine whether they are suited to do a certain job.

I never do. I just say that I'm fine and I'll work. Haven't been turned down from a single job because my track record was good.

Agree with others, in the future, don't disclose. Chalk this one up to a lesson learned.

And lets face it. When I am work, if I come across something I don't anything about, I try to avoid it. Why do I want to spend hours and hours trying to figure it out, when a much simpler path is open to me? For instance, I got forced into learning about hydraulic pumps and oils when quite frankly I would much rather be programming. In their case, they don't know what Asperger's Syndrome is, so instead of taking the time, they hire their #2 choice.

If you missed a training deadline that happens once or twice a year, I hate to say it, most likely, their intent is not to hire you. They are just trying to come up with some excuse not to hire you that sounds good in a court of law. Don't waste your time trying to sue them. Instead focus on finding another job.

Yeah, it's not very wise to disclose AS if it barely affects you, I think. This situation does seem kind of strange, nevertheless.

I disclose when there is an interview because I come across as noticeably different in social situations. However, when there is no interview, I typically don't disclose until I have settled in on the job a bit.