It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of all people are neurodivergent. Many of them suffer from sensory sensitivities. Noise in an office, for example, which so-called neurotypical people find annoying, can restrict them to such an extent that they are no longer able to perform. It is similar with all sensory perceptions: Neurodivergent people perceive things more strongly and are less able to block them out. If you design workplaces to suit neurodivergent people, all your employees will benefit as the overall environment will be more pleasant.
The most important information on workplace design for neurodivergent employees
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Neurodivergent people often experience sensory impressions more strongly than others.
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They are often distracted more quickly or suffer from noise, unpleasant lighting or chaos.
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When designing the workplace, employers can ensure that there are different areas for different needs.
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There should be opportunities for movement in the office.
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All employees benefit from digital detox in the company, but neurodivergent employees in particular.
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Tools can be used to make working at the computer barrier-free.
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Flexible break arrangements help to reduce stress and improve concentration.
Neurodivergent people feel differently
The term neurodivergence is used to describe people whose brains process information in very different ways beyond the average. We have explained what this includes in the article Neurodivergence in the company.
As people with ADHD have different sensitivities than autistic people or people with obsessive-compulsive disorder or dyslexia, there is no “perfect” workplace for neurodivergent people. Workplace design for neurodiverse employees is therefore more about creating options and giving employees a certain degree of freedom of choice and control.
Viewing the office space with all senses
If you enter an open-plan office in which all workstations are arranged and set up in the same way, this may initially appear neat and fair. However, it doesn't take into account that people have different needs. Some need more noise and interaction in order to work well, while others need to be able to isolate themselves.
An office that takes all options into account offers different workspaces and zones: There are quieter places and livelier ones, brighter and darker ones. Neurotypical employees will also find it pleasant to be able to choose.
Noises have a strong influence
People with ADHD have no natural filter to block out noise. Medium-loud conversations at the desk next door can make it impossible to concentrate. Those who need complete silence to focus will benefit from an individual office. Of course, this is not possible in many cases. But there are cost-effective alternatives, such as
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sound-absorbing partitions
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noise-canceling headphones
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designated quiet rooms and offices specifically for people who want to work in silence
Background noise in an open-plan office, which cannot be avoided, is often perceived as less disturbing if you mask it with white noise.
Larger companies can also benefit from soundproof work booths: They don't cost much and allow you to set up small, quiet workstations in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
Tip: Some people can only work if they can hear certain background noises. If someone wants to listen to a radio play or series through headphones, give them the go-ahead to try it out - at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that the results are satisfactory.
Calm and clarity through design
Avoid patterned floors when furnishing the office - they are confusing and contribute to disorientation. You should also avoid strong patterns in other furnishings. Good choices for a calming, clear environment include
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clearly visible signs
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simple colors
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a few strategically positioned works of art and pictures as orientation points (in the offices, however, you should hang nothing or only a few on the walls)
The easier it is to find your way around the company and the less chaos there is, the more comfortable most neurodivergent people feel. Finding your way intuitively always offers security.
The lighting question
What the lighting should ideally look like is a question of perception. Some people prefer bright light, others like it more subdued. Many neurodivergent people, who quickly suffer from sensory overload, generally cope better with subdued light.
What you can do in any case: Replace fluorescent tubes with high-quality LEDs. The light at the workplace should shine evenly and not flicker. You can also create different “islands” in a large room with different levels of lighting. If you have several offices available, you can provide workstations with different levels of lighting.
Tip: Purchase sunglasses or blue light filter glasses to protect the eyes during working hours at the computer.
Freedom of movement
It is a well-known phenomenon that people in office jobs do not move enough. Many people with ADHD often have the urge to move around or change their position. You can make this possible by providing various options, such as
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height-adjustable desks
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active seating
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footstools
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Stress balls or hand gyroscopes
If you offer an active area where the team can brainstorm together, you can equip it with sitting balls or rocking chairs. This way, employees with ADHD can indulge their urge to move - and everyone else also has the opportunity to loosen up their muscles and prevent tension.
Fresh air
All employees suffer from stale air, but neurodivergent colleagues can find it particularly unpleasant or debilitating. Make sure that a supply of fresh air is guaranteed at all times. Green indoor plants help to improve the air and are also pleasing to the eye without being too distracting.
Appropriate tools and digital detox
There are tools that make work much easier for some neurodivergent people. Those who suffer from dyslexia, for example, benefit enormously from speech-to-text software. If you have difficulties with text entry, you can have the text read aloud. There are many ways to make working on the computer accessible.
In many other respects, however, you should critically examine the digital offerings in your company. Neurodivergent people are easily distracted if they have to monitor too many channels. Therefore, streamline the offering as much as possible - you can read how to do this in our article on implementing digital detox strategies.
Communication is essential
As neurodiverse people differ greatly in their needs, managers should regularly seek to talk to them and find out whether there are opportunities for optimization. Offering retreats and flexible break time arrangements can take a lot of pressure out of the working day and allow employees to make their day as positive and productive as possible. These are things that also make work more pleasant for neurotypical employees.
