Between Communication and Participation: Autistic Employees in Neurotypical Work Environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47747/fmiic.v1i3.3578Abstract
This study examines how autistic employees sustain participation in formal work settings by focusing on the role of coping mechanisms in navigating workplace communication and job demands. Adopting a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 13 formally employed individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Indonesia and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that workplace participation is shaped by ongoing interaction between communication practices, job demands, and individual working styles. Communication ambiguity and implicit expectations create challenges in understanding and coordination, while misalignment between environmental demands and cognitive and social processing styles increases work pressure. In response, coping mechanisms such as masking, task structuring, and self-regulation function as continuous strategies that enable employees to sustain performance. However, these strategies carry cognitive and emotional costs, particularly under intensified work demands. Supportive communication and flexible work practices help reduce these challenges, although their application remains inconsistent. The study highlights the importance of improving communication clarity, task structure, and work flexibility to enhance alignment between employees and their work environments and support more sustainable workplace participation.
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