Debate: Should I tell my boss about my autism diagnosis or just keep masking at work?

I finally got diagnosed last month at 34 and I'm stuck between being honest with my warehouse manager or just keeping up the act since I've managed 6 years without them knowing, has anyone here come out at work and regretted it or been glad they did?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor2193d ago

Six years of masking in a warehouse sounds like you're already doing the heavy lifting, might as well get paid for the extra therapy bill. If your boss asks why you're suddenly less chatty, tell him you're optimizing your efficiency.

johnthompson3d agoMost Upvoted

Whoa, I gotta push back a little on that. I get where you're coming from with the therapy bill joke, but changing your whole personality just to match a job's expectations feels like giving up a piece of yourself. Six years is a long time to keep up a mask, and if you've been doing it that long, you probably have some good reasons for being chatty in the first place. Maybe being friendly helps the day go faster or builds trust with coworkers. I'd say it's better to find a middle ground where you're not drained, not just shutting down completely. Efficiency is great, but you can't run a warehouse on silence alone.