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Employee Turnover is Expensive. DEI Helps Especially When Autistics are Hired
For companies struggling with high employee turnover rates, hiring autistic people can help solve this problem.
According to Gallup, employee turnover costs businesses $1 trillion and is fixable.
In addition to the cost of hiring a new employee, there is a loss of knowledge, productivity and relationships as well as potential morale issues.
There are many things a company can and should do to keep their employees engaged and satisfied to retain them. One is a renewed emphasis on DEI programs.
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Some take it one step farther and add a B which stands for Belonging.
Diversity is beneficial in bringing in new perspectives and reducing bias in treating differences in people equally.
Equity is about giving people what they need to be successful. This goes a long way to retaining employees, and coupled with inclusion you have a powerful combination.
Inclusion is the actions taken by the company and employees to foster an inclusive environment.
Belonging takes it one step further where employees feel at ease to be themselves. This is a key to having a strong company culture.
An employee who has what they need to be successful, and a feeling of belonging, is less likely to leave — especially when you consider this is a level most other companies do not achieve.
In the 1990s and early 2000s I worked for two Fortune 100 companies. While they did not have DEI programs per se, the first created a culture very much aligned with the objectives of DEI.
Even though the company was large it felt like a family. The second did not value people, and culturally, the difference was stark.
No effort was made for inclusion, and diversity was largely non-existent.
DEI programs can help immensely for those with disabilities. I am autistic, and in society we generally do not achieve the level of belonging.
We are largely excluded, and inclusion can seem like a dream.
In terms of turnover, autistic employees have lower turnover rates. We also tend to be more productive.
Sadly, it is reported that autistic unemployment rates are as high as 85%.
This is due in part to many Autistics not being hired in the first place. We don’t survive the hiring process.
The way we are wired tends to set off alarm bells in neurotypicals.
First impressions count a lot in interviews, and many of us are viewed negatively with a lack of eye contact or other “awkwardness.”
A good DEI problem would solve for this. Autism is considered a disability and protected by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to prevent against job application discrimination when qualified.
And yet, discrimination is the norm. I’ve met with dozens of Autistics to talk about their experiences in the hiring process as well as hundreds more on social media.
Most do not disclose they are autistic since they have been met with interviews being cancelled or interviews cut short. This is the opposite of inclusion.
Equity is about getting what we need to be successful. In disclosing what we need, such as simple accommodations like getting the questions ahead of time, we are largely met with discrimination.
Commonly, it’s, “That wouldn’t be fair to the other applicants.”
Well, that’s an equality argument, not equity. This contributes to the 85% unemployment number.
Organizations have a choice to do the right thing. They can be inclusive to create a sense of belonging. It’s in their financial interest.
It’s also in their interest in driving productivity and innovation. Autistic folks tend to be very good here as well as in creativity, depending on the person.
The hiring process and how employees are treated is a choice. With progress and new generations of people entering the workplace I am hopeful DEI programs will continue and begin to include autistic folks.
Peter Mann is the Founder and CEO of Oransi, a leading manufacturer of air filtration and ventilation products. Diagnosed autistic in adulthood, Peter is a United States Military Veteran, having served four years in the Navy, including a tour in the Red Sea during the Gulf War.
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Top image: Freepik.com/rawpixel.com
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Two Biggest Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk
A woman can make two lifestyle changes that will prominently help reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence plus reduce mortality.
Many survivors of breast cancer have a recurrence – which can occur many years after being given the “all clear.”
For some survivors, they live a life of waiting for that other shoe to drop. They know all too well that “it can come back.”
As ominous as this sounds, there are two things a woman can do that can have a mighty impact on the risk of a breast cancer recurrence.
The first change that a woman can make to her lifestyle is to incorporate regular exercise into her life — and this comes with a huge qualifier:
There is no such thing as built-in exercise in the form of housework or “chasing after the kids.”
“Regular exercise modestly protects against breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women,” says Jennifer Hartman, a clinical nurse practitioner specializing in breast health, women’s health and cancer genetics.
“This is mostly due to its role in maintaining a healthy weight and reducing estrogen exposure.”
However, if a woman is not overweight, and even if she was never overweight, exercise is a powerful way to reduce the risk of a recurrence of this disease.
Never, ever assume that exercise won’t help much if you’re on the slender side or have never been an ounce overweight.
Working out has a strong protective effect against the return of breast cancer in women of all sizes.
A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (Feb. 2017) names exercise the single most important factor in lowering the risk of a recurrence.
The researchers’ conclusions are based on an analysis of 67 published papers.
Next on the list is body weight control.
A gain of fat more than 10% of a woman’s body weight, after a breast cancer diagnosis, raises BC mortality — but also all-cause mortality.
Obesity is definitely a strike against lowering a favorable longterm outcome following breast cancer treatment.
“Obesity has been shown in studies to increase the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women as well as lead to higher rates of mortality and even an increased risk of a second breast cancer,” says Hartman.
“There are several explanations for this. Most breast cancers are stimulated by estrogen — and increased fat tissue leads to an increase in circulating estrogen.
“Additionally, increased fat tissue is linked with insulin resistance and increased inflammation which both increase tumor cell growth.”
Another change that survivors can make is to quit drinking alcohol. As for a maxium daily intake for those who have no intention of quitting, it’s four ounces per day — regardless of type of drink.
Exercise
• Do half an hour or more a day of moderate exercise, five days a week. Housework and childcare do not count.
Exercise should be structured, systematic and planned so that there are no interruptions or distractions, and so that one can also implement proper form.
The report encourages strength training as part of the program. Strength training should be in the form of exercises that hits large muscle groups such as the bench press, leg press, a variation of squatting, pulling movements and the deadlift. Two to three sessions per week are recommended.
Anastase Maragos on Unsplash
• Or, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, such as brisk hiking up hills or a high-energy group fitness class.
Shutterstock/El Nariz
Strength Training
- Learn to master proper form and technique.
- If you’re thinking of hiring a personal trainer, make sure it’s one who does not encourage conversation during the actual strength training set. As a former personal trainer, I’ve seen too many trainers having their clients yak and yak during a set.
- Lifting weights is something to be taken seriously, in which focus, correct form and breathing techniques are very important. If you can yak while lifting weights, you’re not working hard enough, and your concentration will be compromised.
Aerobics
- This can include cardio equipment.
- If you use a treadmill, do not hold on other than for momentary balance checks. Start slowly to get used to the moving tread.
- Swing your arms naturally. Holding on skewers posture and can result in tight upper back muscles or a repetitive stress injury to the hips.
