Just the Job!: A Light-Hearted Guide to Office Life for the Autistic Employee

by Debby Elley, Tim Stringer (Illustrator), Debby Elley

Smart casual? Close of play? Endless water-cooler discussions about the weather? Neurotypical adults can behave in baffling ways - and never more so in the maze of unwritten social rules, jargon and ritual that is your average day at the office. Luckily, Maura and Debby (office code cracker extraordinaires) have gone undercover in 'typical' offices for decades to pull together the ultimate survival guide for the autistic employee. Wickedly illustrated by Tim Stringer, this one-stop-shop gives guidance on everything from navigating sensory issues andasking for reasonable workplace adjustments to the appropriate etiquette of in-person and hybrid spaces and how to deal with instances of bullying and harassment. With translations of the bizarre idioms and acronyms of office-speak, as well advice on the terrifying unspoken rules of an office social life - this is both a hilarious and highly practical guide to being happier and more successful at work.

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2024

Reviews

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the pacing and lighthearted tone of this book, and think it would be excellent for an autistic person who has never had a job before.
However, it did rustle my jimmies (so to speak) how quite a lot of the book focuses on how to adapt to other colleagues and traditions and the way to respond to them (which is to always acquiesce). For example, you don’t have to bring in biscuits and share them round; you don’t have to replace somebody’s mug if you break it (these aren’t “musts”). It felt like this book was priming the autistic person how to mask and “keep the peace” in an office environment, over how to use their skillset and abilities specifically.
Whilst I understand the goal of a cohesive working environment to some extent, an autistic person should be allowed to speak honestly and openly without having to preface everything they say with a learned sentence… at least, in my eyes, (as an autistic person).

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It really helps clarify the social etiquette others work by and how to navigate through different situations.