Life after redundancy: riding the waves of unemployment and neurodivergence

It is four months since I was made redundant and I still do not have a job. This week I received two rejections from jobs I thought I would be good at. It's always the same story, another candidate more closely matched the criteria or they had more experience - but they never tell you what specific thing you need to also closely match the criteria and score higher. So I'm getting feedback, but it doesn't help with future interviews. My interview technique is generally good, and my presentations are always well received. Any written task I have to do isn't a concern, because writing is one thing I know I can do well. So, I continue going to interviews not knowing what I can do better. And that's the thing, it's always about being better, isn't it? What is wrong with who we are? We wonder, have I answered the question in the right way? Have I understood what they need? Do I look like they would want me on their team? Is there enough eye contact? Is being honest the right thing? Should I have asked for reasonable adjustments? So many questions, with very few answers. And when you've been made redundant in the way I have, especially if your former employer told you your skills aren't valued for their new strategy, the last thing we need, is to be told is that we need to be better. The version of ourself post redundancy should be more than enough.

Job hunting is a very isolating experience, with every rejection making you feel more like a failure, and that you will never ever get a job. Sadly, it is estimated that around 30% - 40% of neurodivergent people are unemployed in the UK today, which suggests that we not only need to be better equipped in supporting neurodivergent people post redundancy, we also need to develop a deeper understand of what we as a society and local communities can do, to ensure neurodivergent people are able to both access and sustain meaningful employment. And this shouldn't be just pushing people towards 'any job' that is available, but really thinking about ways systems, processes and policies can be more supportive and inclusive of neurodivergent talent. There is a reason this statistic is so high. It's not because ND folk are doing anything wrong - in fact, far from it - it's because most systems are designed to exclude us. They are not built to understand principles of universal design, systemic inclusion and brains who think differently. Why shouldn't I be able to progress in my career because I have a brain that processes things in a different way? Why shouldn't I also get a chance? Why don't these organisations want to employ me?

The trauma of redundancy and signing on

Since my role was made redundant and I became officially unemployed, I've had to visit the job centre to access the benefits system and claim Jobseeker’s Allowance for the first time in years. During the first meeting, that was supposed to offer support to find a job, I found myself interviewing my 'job coach' about a system that is clearly not fit for purpose. She said: “There’s nothing I can do for you. But you still have to come in once a fortnight to chat to me.” Since then, I've had to go in every two weeks, when she asks me how my job search is going. I tell her I have an interview coming up or I'm working on an application, she makes my next appointment and then sends me on my way. At no point in any of our conversations has she asked me how I'm doing following quite a traumatic redundancy.

During my first meeting she told me that the Job Centre works with a wide spectrum of people right from professionals like me who have a career plan through to people who struggle with literacy or access to technology. She then clarified, that yes, they don't have the training or time to appropriately support people. I asked what training they get. She said a three day mental health training and hinted at some disability advisors, who apparently have a quick 10 minute chat with them if someone has a disability they need to be aware of. What learning on inclusion can happen in 10 minutes? As that first meeting progressed she told me that they have no private rooms, as they’re only allowed one security guard. So if someone got overwhelmed or struggled with the sensory overload of a Job Centre, they have no where to go. This is also assuming that all job seekers claimants are in some way a threat, and require a security guard patrolling the room. If someone is already feeling anxious, this is one way to heighten anxiety. Everyday people are forced to stay in stay in an open plan room sharing intimate details of their life, and being subjected to repeated trauma, with staff who aren't equipped or trained to manage situations appropriately.

As I continue to attend to get my £90 a week, I've realised that those appointments aren’t there to support people with finding work, but to check up on people. Reiterating sanctions whenever possible. There is zero understanding of disability. I have to apply for “any job in my ability” if I don’t get a job in a month. It is now well past that month deadline, she hasn't mentioned it yet but I'm sure she will in time. Who is judging what I can do? Recently I went on holiday with my family, I haven't been away in months, and quite frankly needed a break. My next appointment was to be when I returned home. I received a text on a Friday whilst away to say my appointment had been moved to the following Monday, the day I was due to be travelling home. I was hundreds of miles away from home and there was no way I would be able to make this last minute appointment. I phoned to explain that I was unable to make the appointment and asked if it could be rearranged to later in the week. She asked why I couldn't attend. I said that I didn't have to provide a reason or justify myself to her. She said, "I do, in case it goes to a decision maker." Essentially threatening me with a sanction. She told me that I have agreed to a commitment to be available for work. At no point have I said that I was not actively seeking work, I was just unable to make a last minute appointment that they had changed. I felt like a fraud. The one thing I dream of is getting another job, to have a routine and feel part of a team again. How could she judge me as not being 'available for work'? All she saw is someone who she could potentially sanction. After I reiterated not being given any notice for the appointment, and that being informed via text on a Friday for the following Monday without a phone call was unacceptable, she backed off, eventually conducting my one minute conversation about my job search over the phone and booking an appointment for two weeks time. At no point did she ask how I was doing, there was no concern for my wellbeing, just if I was meeting my claimant commitments. We are constantly fed the rhetoric that unemployed people aren't entitled to nice things, when really that 'nice thing' might be just what they need after loosing their job. Treating people like human beings, without belittling them would be a step forward in providing appropriate support. I would not allow a line manager to speak to me like that, so I'm not about to make it okay for a 'work coach' to do so. We may be unemployed, and we should be able to access a support system when we need it, without fear of losing the little money it provides. We are human beings too. If this is my experience as someone with the privilege of education and ability to stand up for myself, who can and wants to work, for the many disabled people who are unable to work, the stigma and trauma of accessing a system that is meant to support (but does the opposite) is, I imagine so much worse.

In the same week as my first appointment at the Job Centre Liz Kendall announced early plans to reform the benefits system and support people into work. When I was in a Job Centre, I didn’t see any support. I saw a system that needs to change from its core, they have to completely re-design the DWP. Currently they have staff who just don't know what to do and lack the capacity to meet people's needs, this could be difficult at best and dangerous at worst. They have to undo years of trauma people have experienced, especially disabled people. A full cultural change. This isn’t an easy feat, to gain peoples trust, to believe they can experience support and care from a system as it should, acting as a safety net when people need it most. People need to be able to go there without the fear of draconian sanctions for being late for an appointment or not spending 35 hours a week applying for jobs, and having to justify their every move to Job Centre staff who display little compassion or understanding.

In terms of my own situation, they know I have experienced redundancy. You only have to google 'redundancy' to understand how traumatic this can be. So far, my 'work coach' has not asked how I am doing or checked in on my wellbeing, and I doubt she intends to any time soon. I’m lucky to have support from friends, family and former colleagues, but what about people who don’t have this? Without systemic change to completely reform services, these are the people I worry about.

Is there any psychological safety and job hunting - life balance when unemployed?

Work is for a lot of people, and my last job was no exception, a very social thing. Friendships form, you chat about things beyond work and get to know your colleagues. My job also involved a social element when we stayed away for a few nights together at away days. This social interaction was also suddenly pulled from me, like a rug from under my feet. The emotional impact of redundancy is often much deeper than simply losing a job. It's a whole network of people and community, who you've spent months or years chatting to everyday, developing relationships, sharing weekend stories, cat pics and collaborating on projects together, and now these people are not there. Your mornings are quieter without reading their daily checkins, yet your mind and thoughts are far from still or silent. They are louder than ever. The loss felt by redundancy has a ripple effect with different impacts of rejection, a vicious cycle.

Recently, I've been doing a lot of reading and writing about what it means to be psychologically safe at work, and what others can do to support this. In writing my book "Neurodiversity in The Workplace: How to create a safe and inclusive environment." I've explored systemic inclusion, and how we can design workplaces to create environments we all want to be in, and can be ourselves in. I wrote this book because I've finally felt cared for and valued at work, my line manager was and remains a wonderful support, and I wanted to share this with others. However, in comparison, I've noticed that there is very little written or spoken about psychological safety and unemployment. Are we not entitled to feeling psychologically safe now we no longer have the job we once loved? My experience of the Job Centre as shared above highlights how I am not psychologically safe when I attend my appointments there. We're told to treat job hunting as a full time job, yet we're not provided with the same support systems and a safe environment as we would expect of from good employer.

In my book I shared that before a workplace even considers psychological safety, it's important to get the basics right; food and water, interaction that is comfortable for you, a space where it is safe to be vulnerable, manageable working hours and being paid fairly for the work you do. These basics are important before we look deeper into adding in being able to challenge and accept being challenged, feeling comfortable communicating needs to people around you, and eventually feeling happier. For anyone who has been made redundant, it affects all parts of life and so many people struggle to access these basic needs. As Maslow named it, the Hierarchy of needs. At the bottom of the hierarchy there are things like food, shelter and sleep - which a sudden loss of a job will impact for most people. Then Job Centres try to make these needs even more inaccessible by sanctioning people for being late or missing appointments. If we don't have these basics or accessing these needs suddenly becomes a worry , we won't achieve psychological safety or belonging. We can't climb the hierarchy, and as a result self esteem plummets. This makes the experience of trying to get a job even more challenging. Why are so many neurodivergent people unemployed? Look no further.

A quick google of the word redundant shows definitions like: "no longer needed or useful" and "surplus to requirements". There are similar words like "useless", "disposable" and "unwanted". So if this is how a person is being defined, and I say person, as although people speak of "positions being made redundant" - a person is very much behind that position, a job description isn't anything without the person to do the job - how can anyone who has been made redundant feel psychologically safe both during the redundancy process, and when they become unemployed? And how can this put anyone in good stead for finding another job when they are feeling psychologically and emotionally broken? I have no real answers to my questions, except to say, as I am still very much riding the waves, psychological safety must be considered when navigating redundancies at work, both by employers and by job centres. Mental health is way more important than hitting targets, cutting costs or arguing a business case. I'm only in the position I am now (which to be honest isn't really a great one) because I have a lovely support network of ex-colleagues, friends and family. And I am able to share the load with different people to talk to. But imagine the difference for those who don't have that network of support. How are they doing? Who is looking out for their mental health? Who is making sure they feel psychologically safe? They are the people I worry about.

So what can you do to support someone facing redundancy?

Be there to listen. If someone feels safe opening up to you about their redundancy and unemployment, make sure you listen. You don't have to have any answers, offer solutions or fix their problems. Simply being available to listen can help them with processing events and planning the next thing that's right for them.

Remind them of celebrations. As I've shared being made redundant can evoke feelings of failure, trigger a lack of confidence and belief they can do it. So, what I've valued most is people reminding me what I can do, things I've done well and achievements I may have forgotten. This is also useful when tackling a sea of job applications. Applying for jobs is tough when all you can think about is your own floors, so having someone remind what you have and can bring to a team really is a much needed self esteem boost.

Give them time and space to breathe. It's also important not to overpower people and to allow space. Yes, be in touch and make sure you checkin but maybe not everyday. If they've said they need some space to process and think, make sure you allow them that. But also let them know you're there if they need you.

Offer practical support. As I've shared, redundancy can affect all parts of someone's life, and sometimes asking for help can feel like the hardest thing. If you feel able to offer support beyond listening, consider other ways to be there. It could be offering to read applications, a regular phone call to check in, taking them out for the day for a change of scene, offering to support with applying for benefits or even getting some shopping in.

Chat about things other than the redundancy and job hunting, This is important. Despite their life feeling all consumed by their current situation, it really shouldn't be. I still want to hear about your pets, holidays and good news too.

Arrange to meet up to give them something to look forward to. When you've just been made redundant it can feel like your world is all consumed by it. And feelings turn into a bit of a vicious cycle. Get a date in the diary to give them a break from these feelings. You might have to take a lead with organisation here, as they may not be in the best emotional state to do so.

Redundancy and becoming suddenly unemployed is tough to come to terms with, going from getting up every morning to start work, to wondering what the day will hold, if you'll find a job that day or if the Job Centre will find a reason to stop your benefits. It's a rocky rollercoaster to be on and a big adjustment to make. My experience so far has taught me that we all have the responsibility to respond to news of a redundancy with empathy, compassion and care, and employers have the power to treat all redundancies fairly and with an understanding of the feelings and emotions hearing such news triggers, even for the most confident of employee. We will all feel this pain. I do know somewhere deep in my brain that my identity isn't just my job, there is more to me than work, but it is still a huge part of my identity. An identity that I had just a few months ago, with a full diary of deadlines and zoom meetings.

I'm going to continue riding these waves until I find another place that is right for me, where I am supported, included and valued, a place where I can be myself in. I know it must be out there somewhere. Do send any charity communications roles my way, especially if they involve inclusion, children and young people or disability.

In the meantime, if you'd like to support me by buying my book 'Neurodiversity in the Workplace" or booking me to speak about neurodivergent inclusion at work, it will be appreciated now more than ever.

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