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Journal of Business and Psychology
Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology 2/2021

04-01-2020 | Original Paper

Tensions on the spectrum: an inductive investigation of employee and manager experiences of autism

Authors: Christopher E. Whelpley, George C. Banks, Jaime E. Bochantin, Rosalyn Sandoval

Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology | Issue 2/2021

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Abstract

The increase in autistic individuals seeking employment has led to a growing need for management researchers to consider autism in the workplace. To date, little organizational research has examined this area and what research does exist relies on theories imported from either general psychology (e.g., stigma theory) or reflects a view of autism as a disability. We use the constant comparative method from grounded theory to explore three research questions and to provide researchers and practitioners with recommendations for how autism influences the workplace. Our data sources include (1) written responses from autistic individuals with an employment history and (2) written responses from individuals who have managed autistic individuals in the workplace. Across our two samples, we found largely complementary viewpoints with some of the main categories revolving around disclosure, communication issues or misunderstandings, and management support. Underlying these categories was a desire for equal treatment and an unfortunate ignorance of what autism is. The responses also led us to provide a framework that is organized around the tensions that autistic individuals feel in the workplace regarding disclosure. We conclude by situating our results in the existing literature and discussing the strategic integration of autistic individuals into the workforce.
previous article Improving employee emotional and behavioral investments through the trickle-down effect of organizational inclusiveness and the role of moral supervisors
next article The Value of Speaking for “Us”: the Relationship Between CEOs’ Use of I- and We-Referencing Language and Subsequent Organizational Performance

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Metadata
Title
Tensions on the spectrum: an inductive investigation of employee and manager experiences of autism
Authors
Christopher E. Whelpley
George C. Banks
Jaime E. Bochantin
Rosalyn Sandoval
Publication date
04-01-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Business and Psychology / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0889-3268
Electronic ISSN: 1573-353X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-019-09676-1

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