Equality: Fair Work

Taking Fair Work Forward

Week 2a: Autism appropriate workplaces

Welcome back to Taking Fair Work Forward – a learning course on emerging issues, for EIS equality rep. In this course, we wanted to link in key learning on equality issues, with current matters affecting education.

About this week

During the establishment of the EIS Disabled Members Network in 2021, members noted the need for improved understanding of autism in the workplace and support for autistic workers.

In this week’s learning we will draw on work undertaken by an EIS focus group of autistic members, and a related small-sample survey. We will look at increasing knowledge and understanding of autism and facilitate proactive changes that can make workplaces more equitable for autistic workers.

The work of the Autism Appropriate Workplaces Focus Group has informed several EIS learning events and is intended to culminate in the publication of guidance for Reps on this topic.

This week’s expert is Marion McLaughlin, CEO of Autism Understanding Scotland.

This Weeks Topics

4. What role can Equality Reps play?

What else do you want to say?

Learning points:

  • Autistic employees can be a fantastic asset to any workplace. 
  • Autistic people’s creativity, out the box thinking, loyalty, are all key qualities that any organisation would benefit from. 
  • Having open, honest non-judgemental conversations can solve a lot of issues before they become problems.

Reflective question

What do you think the current level of understanding of autism is, in your local area? Where does this knowledge stem from?

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy extends the Fair Work Framework to proactively promote more diverse workplaces.

Fair work is essential to ensure everyone can bring their whole selves to work, and that everyone is respected and valued equally.

To ensure we can equitably realise Fair Work for all Autistic teachers and lecturers.:

  • Autistic educators’ voices must be heard and celebrated in the union and in education
  • Autistic educators must be respected at work, and appropriate consideration must be given to how the workplace can be adjusted to realise their full potential and removing any barriers that impact equal opportunity
  • Autistic educators must be valued for their perspectives and contributions, to increase a sense of work fulfilment which is essential to wellbeing.
  • Being safe at work and in your job is essential, so workplaces must tackle discrimination, harassment and insecure employment.

Training was a significant gap identified by the sample survey of autistic EIS members. Only 4 out of 28 respondents said their workplace provided training that included information about being autistic in the workplace. Some others said sessions were primarily about autistic young people.

Most respondents did not know whether their manager had a good understanding of autism, only 6 agreed and 11 disagreed. Similarly, when it came to feeling supported, only one person strongly agreed their manager knew how to support autistic staff members, whilst 10 didn’t know, and 14 disagreed. 4 agreed.

Possible actions for Equality Reps

  • Consider how you can raise awareness of members, and education leadership about autism
  • Consider how you could go about encouraging autistic members to share their experiences and to grow their union voice and activism
  • Review policies and procedures and consult with members on how to make these more autism appropriate

Further information

Posters from EIS Women’s History https://www.eis.org.uk/gender-equality/iwd2022

One Thousand Women’s Voices: https://www.eis.org.uk/gender-equality/1000womenbriefing

Get it Right for Girls: https://www.eis.org.uk/gender-equality/girfgguidance

Please move on to the Next Topic when you are done with this page – you can always return to view it again later on.

Now log into your Padlet to record your reflections, questions and notes. At the end of the week, please comment on at least one other participant’s reflections on the Padlet. 

The Padlet
Start Next Week >>

Archive Material

View our archived material on Fair-Work within Scotland’s education system

View Archive