Twenty-fourth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

Traditionally, neurodiverse individuals who are affected by one or more neurological conditions such as Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, and OCD, have been ignored in the mainstream workforce. However, in recent times, considerable effort has been made by firms to integrate such individuals into the workforce. Past studies indicate that neurodiverse employees possess significantly better aptitude than conventional workers in tasks that require very high levels of precision and complex calculations. In India, the participation of neurodiverse employees in the labour market is still at a nascent stage. However, some MNCs and non-profit organizations have shown remarkable progress in this regard. This study explores the perception of neurodiverse employees about organizational factors such as work environment, leadership support, and inclusive climate, and how their overall perception towards their employers affects their organizational longevity and commitment. Data has been collected from organizations employing neurodiverse employees and operating in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Data has been analyzed by employing a mixed-method approach. First, in the quantitative study, we administered a structured survey for the neurodiverse employees to test research hypotheses. Multivariate statistical analyses were carried out to analyze the data. Second, a follow-up qualitative study was conducted with both neurodiverse employees and their employers to gain deeper insight into the challenges and issues faced by such individuals and their employers while integrating them into the mainstream workforce. Implications for organizational restructuring and training are discussed at length.