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The workplace is, for most people, a dynamic yet unpredictable place.
Open-plan offices make interaction more frequent, the culture of always being at the office means longer hours and human resources personnel must balance a variety of personalities to create a happy workplace, observes Rykie Liebenberg, psychiatrist and convener of the South African attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) special interest group.
If you have an employee who suffers from ADHD, creating a productive and stable workplace can be a challenge.
The condition is usually undiagnosed and untreated, and only 17% of people who suffer from it receive treatment.
If ADHD is not managed and treated, the impulsiveness, hyperactivity and lack of attention can have a negative effect on a person’s career, says Liebenberg.
Studies show that adults with ADHD are more often unemployed, change jobs over a 10-year period more frequently, and are much less satisfied with their family, social and professional lives.
This is sometimes because of the unmanaged ADHD symptoms at work.
“Adults with poorly managed ADHD are often on the go – at the printer, making coffee, going to smoke a cigarette – and interrupt the work of colleagues,” notes Liebenberg.
“They struggle to concentrate in meetings, which means they leave the meeting without the necessary information.
“This leads to the impression that they are lazy and not interested in their work, which is often not the case,” she warns.
Liebenberg further explains that people who suffer from ADHD can struggle to work in an open-plan environment.
“Any noise, or change in light or activity, can distract their attention from what they are doing. They are equally susceptible to digital interference, such as email. Each time there is a new message, they will first want to see what it is about,” she explains.
“Social media, smartphones, tablets and the internet generally take up much of their time, and prevent them from concentrating on their work.”
It is, therefore, very important for employers to know whether an employee suffers from ADHD, so they can take the necessary steps to manage them correctly.
Liebenberg recommends that employers should try their best to allow such employees to work in a quiet area, away from noise and distractions.
It is not wise to place such employees near a window, where they can look out all the time, she says.
“Visual reminders have been proved to be the most effective way to help adults suffering from ADHD,” she says.
“An employer must look at year planners with the employee, as well as a diary they can use regularly to help them focus. Large to-do lists with brightly coloured stickers also work well.”
Liebenberg recommends that small steps can be taken by the employee with ADHD to make the day at the office easier.
“Go to bed early enough, maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
“What people often do not realise is that employees with ADHD can be a very valuable asset to a team. They typically bring a lot of energy, creativity and lateral thinking, and if they are given a project to do that they are interested in, they do it quickly,” she explains.
“With the right management of the condition, and teamwork between employer and employee, both can experience a productive day at the office.”
She recommends that if anyone experiences the typical symptoms as described, they should seek professional help to ensure they get the right assistance.
If you, as an employer, notice the symptoms in employees, you should recommend that they get help to bring out their best performance.
