ENCOURAGING NEURODIVERSITY IN THE EVOLVING WORKFORCE – THE NEXT FRONTIER TO A DIVERSE WORKPLACE

Abstract

Nowadays, organizations tend to focus on diversity in the workplace, aiming for true inclusion, and in this context, they cannot overlook a significant demographic as neurodiverse people tends to become. The human brain has no less than 86 billion neurons, this number unequivocally demonstrating that we are all different, and the genetic structure and environmental conditions predispose us to unique behaviors compared to our peers. Neurodiversity is a relatively recent term that covers multiple conditions, such as Autism, ADHD and dyslexia, which tend to affect the cognitive function of the brain. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the literature in the field of neurodiversity generally and the inclusion of neurodiversity in the workplace, particularly, and to identify a series of best practices of the various companies in this field. In order to achieve this goal, the secondary study started from defining the neurodiversity and presenting its various forms, continuing with pointing out the many benefits that the inclusion of neurodiverse people in certain positions can bring and the adjustments that should be made to allow these people to prosper in their work. The premise behind the study is that, once neurodiversity is understood as a reality of the natural variation of human neurocognition, organizations need to identify the ways to attract, to adapt themselves and to harness this potential, since neurodiversity inclusion is an area where "doing well" can also prove to be a good business, given that, although neurodiverse people may face specific challenges in the workplace or in performing certain tasks, with the right adaptations, they can become valuable and unique strengths for the company.

Keywords

• neurodiversity
• diverse workplace
• inclusion
• adaptations