Neurodiversity and remote work in times of crisis: lessons for HR
Open accessAbstract
Purpose: The rich qualitative study builds on 11 semi-structured interviews with nine neurodivergent employees and two business professionals supportive of neurodiversity to understand the lived experiences of dealing with crisis in a remote working environment. Design/methodology/approach: The purpose of the reported research is to understand how neurominorities experience remote working in the times of crisis and what the implications of this are for human resource (HR) professionals. Findings: Moving to remote work resulted in a lack of routine, distractions and working long hours, which can all be difficult for line managers to monitor. Further problems with communication in a virtual environment and lack of understanding by others were found to be particularly burdensome to neurodivergent individuals. On the positive note, remote working in the times of crisis allowed for avoiding sensory overwhelm and was seen as an important step in creating a healthy work–life balance (WLB). Practical implications: The findings of this study point HR practitioners' attention towards building a more neurodiversity friendly post-pandemic workplace and prompt employers to offer working arrangements, which better suit employees' domestic and personal circumstances. Originality/value: This study addresses the lack of research on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on neurominorities. In doing so, it answers recent calls to move away from universal HR as a route to positive employee outcomes and facilitates a more accurate reflection of organizational reality for disadvantaged members of society.
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Most studies that examined remote working experiences with neurodiversity did not focus explicitly on employees with autism but included related conditions.
“Of the studies that examined remote working experiences with neurodiversity (see [15,16]), most did not focus explicitly on employees with autism but included related conditions.”
From Remote work support needs of employees with autism spectrum disorder in Poland: perspectives of individuals with autism and their coworkers (2022) · cites this paper as [16]
Remote working was preferred by others among the neurodivergent population, including individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism.
“Furthermore, remote working was preferred by others among the neurodivergent population, including individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism (see [15,16,17]).”
From Remote work support needs of employees with autism spectrum disorder in Poland: perspectives of individuals with autism and their coworkers (2022) · cites this paper as [16]
The findings suggest a challenge to employees with autism for achieving a better work-non-work balance by navigating their work tasks while not sacrificing their other necessary non-work life activities.
“Our findings suggest a challenge to employees with autism for achieving a better work–non-work balance by navigating their work tasks while not sacrificing their other necessary (non-work life) activities (see also [16,40,41,42]).”
From Remote work support needs of employees with autism spectrum disorder in Poland: perspectives of individuals with autism and their coworkers (2022) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Szulc, J. M., McGregor, F.-L., & Cakir, E.
- Affiliations
- Gdańsk University of Technology (PL)
- University of Huddersfield (GB)
- Venue
- Personnel Review
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2021-12-24
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1677-1692
- ISSN
- 0048-3486 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4200252340
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6
- FWCI
- 9.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- pure.hud.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Personnel Review (publishedVersion)
- Huddersfield Research Portal (University of Huddersfield) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Work-Family Balance Challenges
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- neurodiversity, neurodivergent employees, remote work, COVID-19 pandemic, crisis management, human resource management, workplace communication, sensory overload, work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, lived experience
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