Dyslexia in the work place

mrsberries

Hi all

Im posting on behalf of a friend. She has recently moved to an admin role within her work place (she works in the health sector). She is dyslexic but this has never affected her career before (she has been studying for last two yrs at night - doing essays etc..). Her new boss recently picked up on it and openly questioned her on this in front of other staff. My friend was very embarassed and felt she had to defend herself in how she was appointed to her new role. She was asked very embarassing questions like can she add and subtract!! Is she dyslexic when it comes to numbers!! Her boss is now being very cool towards her. This is starting to impact on my friends confidence (she has previously suffered from severe depression) so Im quite worried for her as she has really started to make things work for her ( I know its early stages, but she had been bullied before and is quite vulnerable).

Does anyone know what her rights are here or have experiences similar?

Thanks, all advice appreciated

doolox

I have worked with people with dyslexia, some of whom were systems engineers, perfectly capable of implementing rules and thinking in a logical and critical manner.
While an administration role involves a large element of written communication it should be possible for a team arrangement to let her work at the logical and rule based part of the job and for someone else to take on the written communication side of things. At least she should be allowed to let a colleague check her spellings before sending out a document if this is the issue.
One would never dream of challenging a physically disabled person in this fashion except if they wanted to be, say, a test pilot or a soldier where full physical fitness is a must.
The woman was hired, went through the selection process and was successful.
Obviously chummy boss has a problem with this.
It makes his job a little more complicated.
Tough.
If discrimination or adverse treatment is not allowed for disabled people in the workplace then it shouldn't be allowed for those with reading difficulties.
It means a little bit more effort and thinking by other people but is that not what civilised society is all about?????

sunnyjim

While I have a lot of empathy for your friend, unfortunately admin is a lot of writing and reading. While doolox suggests that she should be accomodated by having her work lean towards the more logical sides etc., there may be people better suited or better qualified for those sides of the job.

While no-one should be picked on or discriminated for a disability, there are occasions when having one can impinge on the work the sufferer can do comfortably or effectivly.

ScouseMouse

If possible, the company should try to make allowances for her. She is no less able to do the work than anyone else but does have difficulty sometimes.

I had this situation in my job, where someone was messing up cash sheets. I spoke privately to the person on the basis they didn't tell me and should have.

I had no problem with this as my wife is dyslexic, but he should have told me.

You cannot make allowances for someone if you dont know !

mrsberries

Thanks all for your posts and advice much appreciated.

nesf

She should have made it clear in the interview that she was dyslexic since as an admin person who would be dealing with a lot of written material it would be relevant.

I agree that she shouldn't be picked on for having a disability but really I can understand why her boss would be cool with her given that she wasn't open about it upfront. I mean, her exact problems are extremely relevant to what work she will and will not be able to do well and her superior needs to know about them so he can work around it. It's also extremely hard to judge without knowing her exact difficulties. Some forms of dyslexia really make admin work a no-go zone for some people, other forms would only hinder some tasks and not all of them. You don't want a dyslexic with severe spelling problems to be writing letters that are being sent out to clients etc.

mrsberries

nesf wrote: »

She should have made it clear in the interview that she was dyslexic since as an admin person who would be dealing with a lot of written material it would be relevant.

but really I can understand why her boss would be cool with her given that she wasn't open about it upfront. I mean, her exact problems are extremely relevant to what work she will and will not be able to do well and her superior needs to know about them so he can work around it. It's also extremely hard to judge without knowing her exact difficulties. Some forms of dyslexia really make admin work a no-go zone for some people, other forms would only hinder some tasks and not all of them. You don't want a dyslexic with severe spelling problems to be writing letters that are being sent out to clients etc.

Well it was her new boss's manager who encouraged and recruited her to the new position and would have known her background (sorry was vague about that!). As for her boss being cool with her, she's actually ignoring her, which is not very professional in my opinion and would never be accepted in the company I work for.

There have been no incidents this week so hopefully it was a once off.

Thanks all for your input

BaconZombie

She does and should be forced to ask she was dyslexic in the interview, it is non of the company's business.

How many people apply for admin roles and cant type let alone use MS Word, Excel, etc.

I've had to write detailed technical documents, SOX {Sarbanes-Oxley} policies and procedures, in my current and last role. I find due to my dyslexia I re-read and pro-check even little details a hell of a load more then most other would.

nesf wrote: »

She should have made it clear in the interview that she was dyslexic since as an admin person who would be dealing with a lot of written material it would be relevant.

I agree that she shouldn't be picked on for having a disability but really I can understand why her boss would be cool with her given that she wasn't open about it upfront. I mean, her exact problems are extremely relevant to what work she will and will not be able to do well and her superior needs to know about them so he can work around it. It's also extremely hard to judge without knowing her exact difficulties. Some forms of dyslexia really make admin work a no-go zone for some people, other forms would only hinder some tasks and not all of them. You don't want a dyslexic with severe spelling problems to be writing letters that are being sent out to clients etc.

eth0_

AFAIK you are obliged to disclose any disabilities or illnesses when you apply for a job.
Dyslexia is a learning disability.

Yes, the OP's friend should have disclosed this at interview stage, but its no excuse for how her boss is treating her - I would call that bullying!

Ash DK

First may I say that your friend is lucky to have such a good friend.
I am a dyslexic in a difficult admin role. It order to get around the "problem" I have got software that reads back what I have written. It has very much put my mind at rest and I haven't made a mistake since I got it! The system I use is Claro Read 5. I would defo recommend it!

The major problem for your friend, I think, is the self esteem problem that dyslexia has caused. Trust me I battle with it every day. Dyslexics don't have a problem with dyslexia, other people have the problem. If your friend reads the "Gift of Dyslexia" by Ronald Dell Davis it will help them to figure out what kind of dyslexia they have. Also, It may help them to see the benefits that come with dyslexia. People who are not dyslexic can't really understand it.

What you friends boss did is an offence and they should know better. They are stumbling on very dangerous legal territory! I have a degree in Business Management and that manager must be very stupid to make such a blunder!!

I hope this helps.

Regards: Ash

mrsberries wrote: »

Hi all

Im posting on behalf of a friend. She has recently moved to an admin role within her work place (she works in the health sector). She is dyslexic but this has never affected her career before (she has been studying for last two yrs at night - doing essays etc..). Her new boss recently picked up on it and openly questioned her on this in front of other staff. My friend was very embarassed and felt she had to defend herself in how she was appointed to her new role. She was asked very embarassing questions like can she add and subtract!! Is she dyslexic when it comes to numbers!! Her boss is now being very cool towards her. This is starting to impact on my friends confidence (she has previously suffered from severe depression) so Im quite worried for her as she has really started to make things work for her ( I know its early stages, but she had been bullied before and is quite vulnerable).

Does anyone know what her rights are here or have experiences similar?

Thanks, all advice appreciated

Ash DK

Hello,

Look to be fair you don't know the last thing about dyslexia!
Some Dyslexics are very good at English and some are good at Math. Like me I am very bad at math!! However, in English and to be precises comprehension I am considered a genius. When I was 8 I had the general knowledge of an 17 year old. Now tell me do you think that I can't be in admin! People making comments like your last one holds dyslexics back. I for one am going to use my ability in English (thanks to dyslexia) to tell you all that you are wrong.

Please don't think that I am being hostile, but someone has got to speak out. I understand that people don't really know what dyslexia is. Our clever dyslexic children leave the school system every year with no self esteem and feel stupid. So they don't go to college even though the may have wanted to.

Regards: Ash

nesf wrote: »

She should have made it clear in the interview that she was dyslexic since as an admin person who would be dealing with a lot of written material it would be relevant.

I agree that she shouldn't be picked on for having a disability but really I can understand why her boss would be cool with her given that she wasn't open about it upfront. I mean, her exact problems are extremely relevant to what work she will and will not be able to do well and her superior needs to know about them so he can work around it. It's also extremely hard to judge without knowing her exact difficulties. Some forms of dyslexia really make admin work a no-go zone for some people, other forms would only hinder some tasks and not all of them. You don't want a dyslexic with severe spelling problems to be writing letters that are being sent out to clients etc.

nesf

Ash DK wrote: »

Hello,

Look to be fair you don't know the last thing about dyslexia!
Some Dyslexics are very good at English and some are good at Math. Like me I am very bad at math!! However, in English and to be precises comprehension I am considered a genius. When I was 8 I had the general knowledge of an 17 year old. Now tell me do you think that I can't be in admin! People making comments like your last one holds dyslexics back. I for one am going to use my ability in English (thanks to dyslexia) to tell you all that you are wrong.

Please don't think that I am being hostile, but someone has got to speak out. I understand that people don't really know what dyslexia is. Our clever dyslexic children leave the school system every year with no self esteem and feel stupid. So they don't go to college even though the may have wanted to.

Regards: Ash

My comment said specifically that certain forms (not all forms) of dyslexia cause problems with English and that this would be a serious problem in the workplace for some people (again, not all). Which does not at all contradict what you said above. Also, all people with disabilities should reveal them at interview since if they crop up later on having deceived people will come back to bite you. Seriously, I'm a schizophrenic which is a far harder thing to admit at an interview than dyslexia so it's not a trivial stance for me to take.

x in the city

her new 'boss' seems to have the maturity of a acne scarred teenager

any boss worth his salt would have called her aside, she should file a complaint

Mr. Loverman

I agree with a previous poster that a person with dyslexia should tell the employer in the interview.

I have worked with two people in the past who were dyslexic and it made my life difficult. I was continuously having to correct their work.

This will probably sound like a gross generalisation but in my experience people who are dyslexic refuse to accept there is any problem.

To me this is the bigger problem, because their denial turns the issue into an even bigger one. If they just told me they were dyslexic and asked me to proof read things, etc., it would make our lives easier. Instead they get angry and try to claim the problem isn't them, it's the world!

Please don't misunderstand me, I have a lot of empathy for people who have to struggle with some aspect of their life, but pretending there isn't a problem or dyslexia is a good thing doesn't help matters.

seamus

eth0_ wrote: »

AFAIK you are obliged to disclose any disabilities or illnesses when you apply for a job.
Dyslexia is a learning disability.

Yes, the OP's friend should have disclosed this at interview stage, but its no excuse for how her boss is treating her - I would call that bullying!

Obliged....ethically probably, but not legally or anything similar.

In reality before you sign a contract of employment you should reveal all problems which are likely to have an impact on your ability to do your job. Other disabilities are obviously irrelevant. I wouldn't reveal disabilities in an interview, certainly not the first one anyway, unless you would be physically incapable of performing the job.

The problem is that if these things come to light after you've signed the contract, then the company would be well within their rights to let you go because the candidate knew what was expected of the job and knew that their ability to meet those expectations would be somewhat hampered by their disability.

This will probably sound like a gross generalisation but in my experience people who are dyslexic refuse to accept there is any problem.

I wouldn't say that, but there are certainly some people who have the, "I'm the disabled one, so it's up to everyone else to take account of that", rather than realising that the disabled person also has a responsibility (to themselves if nothing else) to account for their disability and make a conscious effort to meet people halfway.

The OP's friend is probably someone who does this, but with the amount of reading & writing involved in her current role, she may need to step up her efforts somewhat. The boss's behaviour is inexcusable but I can understand her frustration. It might be worth sitting down with her privately to discuss it, and what they can do about it. Grab the bull by the horns, so to speak. Perhaps even look into programmes outside of work aimed at helping dyslexic people combat their disability. If the OP's friend can show that she's "proactive" about it and doesn't need others to pick up the slack, then her boss might warm to her.

looksee

There are in this thread two people who consider themselves 'coping' dyslexics. One used a sentence that does not make any sense and the other had several errors in their use of English.

In this environment it does not really matter, but I wonder if it is helpful for them to be in situations where accurate English is important? I have very poor numerical skills and I would not consider looking for a job where numeracy is required.

However it showed very poor management skills for a Manager to pull someone up in public, regardless of the circumstances. At least the first discussion on the matter should have been in private. On the other hand, possibly it could be argued that, just as some people in Administration do not have good English, so some people in Management do not have good people skills.