For 93% of neurodivergent employees, company support is a dealbreaker when applying or staying in a role, according to new research from Everway.
This makes neuroinclusion a clear priority for HR teams looking to attract, retain, and empower talent.
To help HR teams improve support across the employee lifecycle, Cathy Donnelly, Chief People Officer at Everway, has shared her practical tips:
1. Educate & Raise Awareness: Learn about different neurotypes and raise neurodiversity awareness across your teams. Proactively create a neuroinclusive culture where employees feel comfortable being themselves and empowered to understand, communicate, and work in their own way.
2. Recruitment & Onboarding: Use accessible job adverts, consider alternative interview approaches, and clearly communicate expectations.
3. Workplace Tools & Design: Provide neuroinclusive technologies such as text-to-speech software, screen filters, AI summarisation tools, and memory aids; offer quiet spaces and flexible work arrangements.
4. Training & Awareness: Deliver neurodiversity awareness training for managers and colleagues; provide mentoring or support networks.
5. Retention & Recognition: Conduct regular check-ins, adapt performance reviews, and celebrate diverse contributions to foster belonging.
“HR teams are in a pivotal position to make workplaces genuinely neuroinclusive,” says Cathy. “As many as one in five people in your workforce could be neurodivergent. These individuals think in unique ways and bring real advantages to any workplace, from creative problem-solving to out-of-the-box thinking.
“Yet many HR teams are still navigating uncharted territory: only 28% are very confident in identifying different neurodivergent conditions, and almost one in ten are not confident at all. Without awareness and understanding, recruitment processes and workplace environments can unintentionally create barriers to success.
“When neuroinclusive practices are embedded from recruitment through retention, employees feel valued and supported, improving engagement, retention, and overall performance.”
For a full guide to implementing these practices across the employee lifecycle, see Everway’s white paper on workplace culture and inclusion.
Photo by fauxels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/working-in-front-of-the-computer-3184355/
