At Bright, we want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be the Brightest they can be. That’s why in March, we celebrated Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Throughout the week, we had a variety of events where our employees had the chance to learn about neurodiversity in different ways.
- Some of our employees shared their own personal experiences of ADHD, which sparked open conversations with other employees.
- We held a focus group with employees to learn how we can support anyone who is neurodiverse at Bright.
- We also had an inspiring and insightful seminar about Neurodiversity in the Workplace from Garry Clarke Strange, Irish Centre for Diversity.
Supporting employees in sharing their own experiences
Supporting employees in sharing their own experiences is crucial for fostering an inclusive workplace. When employees share their stories, it helps to build a sense of community and understanding among colleagues.
Sharing experiences can also have a positive impact on others. It can provide comfort to those who may be going through similar challenges.
Here are some tips for starting conversations and encouraging employees to share their experiences:
- Start with a smile: A friendly smile can make you seem more approachable and open to conversation – our employees created a series of video speaking about their neurodiversity.
- Use open-ended questions: Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer to create a dialogue to create conversation.
- Find common ground: Look for shared interests or experiences to build a connection.
- Mention something in your surroundings: Use your environment as a conversation starter – Our employees mentioned that our various ways of working are really helpful for them.
- One of our employees said they can’t believe how lucky they are to work in an organisation that allows me to work remotely as this was a major part in them applying for the role.
- While hybrid is also an option at Bright, some people prefer to come into the office every day as a routine is important for them while others like to spilt being in the office and home across the week. to be in the office a few days a week
- Offer or ask for help: Offering assistance or asking for help can be a great way to start a conversation and build rapport
By encouraging employees to share their experiences and providing them with the tools to start meaningful conversations, we can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace at Bright.
