Abstract
Although the bystander effect is one of the most important findings in the psychological literature, researchers have not explored whether autistic individuals are prone to the bystander effect. The present research examines whether autistic employees are more likely to report issues or concerns in an organization’s systems and practices that are inefficient or dysfunctional. By bringing attention to these issues, autistic employees may foster opportunities to improve organizational performance, leading to the development of a more adaptive, high performing, and ethical culture. Thirty-three autistic employees and 34 nonautistic employees completed an online survey to determine whether employees on the autism spectrum (1) are more likely to report they would voice concerns about organizational dysfunctions, (2) are less likely to report they were influenced by the number of other witnesses to the dysfunction, (3) if they do not voice concerns, are more likely to acknowledge the influence of other people on the decision, (4) are less likely to formulate “elaborate rationales” for their decisions to intervene or not, and (5) whether any differences between autistic and nonautistic employees with regards to the first two hypotheses, intervention likelihood and degree of influence, are moderated by individual differences in camouflaging. Results indicate that autistic employees may be less susceptible to the bystander effect than nonautistic employees. As a result, autistic employees may contribute to improvements in organizational performance because they are more likely to identify and report inefficient processes and dysfunctional practices when they witness them. These preliminary findings suggesting potential benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace are promising. However, further research is required.
I can’t function in an environment like that. Nope. I’m not going to be second guessing every single thing I do or say because they expect me to lie when they are explicitly telling me to not lie.
Yeah, I quit the last one because it got too toxic. Startups pay pretty well, so I put up with it for a while before I rage-quit. I had the last laugh, though, since they folded up shop just two months later and dont even exist anymore.
That was my 6th startup, so I’m used to it. I hate it every day when I’m working, but it’s the only thing anyone will pay me (well) to do, so I’ll do it at least until the house is paid off. My sanity usually isn’t the top priority, unfortunately.
Same! I quit my last job because it was unbearably toxic and people’s positions and power were based off of politics and social cliques. Merit seriously had nothing to do with it because lots of lower level employees were overqualified for their positions and management was underqualified. The lower level employees had doctorate level degrees while the management had master’s degrees. Such a ridiculous setup.
I made sure to hit one of the oppressors with a legitimate Equal Opportunity Office complaint so that would be on their record. The next time they pull that crap on someone, there would already be a record of someone complaining of their racist crap. I’m so glad I left that place though, because it only took a few months for me to realize how that place was infecting other parts of my life. Despite a considerable pay reduction, it was one of the best and easiest decisions of my life.
I learned that I need to work in a place with free speech, autonomy, and merit as fundamental values. Otherwise, it’s just not going to work.