Employers from across Northern Ireland came together today at The Allstate Digital Centre of Excellence in Belfast, to explore how they can better support their autistic employees and build more inclusive workplaces.





 

The event focused on practical strategies that employers can adopt and was organised in partnership by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Allstate and the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment.
 

In a joint statement the partners said:
 

“There are currently over 35,000 people with autism in Northern Ireland and many have the skills, talents and attributes our economy needs.
 

“We know that autistic people may require supports to help them secure and retain employment. Very often these supports, or reasonable adjustments are simple measures with no cost attached and if adopted would benefit all employees including those with autism, which in turn will benefit the business more widely. 
 

“Employers who are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce will reap the well documented benefits for their business. These can include, enhanced innovation, improved decision-making, a wider talent pool, higher retention rates, which can lead to increased productivity and profitability.
 

“We continue to encourage employers to talk to their autistic employees and identify ways to help them reach their full potential as a valuable employee in the workplace. Not only is it the right thing to do but there is a very strong case for employers to adopt this approach as part of their business model.”