Okay you might call this a rant...

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

Okay there's something that's been on my mind lately. I am a member of a social group for adults who have Asperger Syndrome which is a high functioning for of Autism. Some people in our group are on the lower functioning part of the spectrum. Now, just to clarify, I am not just simply complaining because I have a learning disability, it's because of the nature of it that I struggle with every day. For those who don't know, it's basically struggling with reading facial expressions, body language and things of that nature. When we had our monthly meeting last Tuesday, he said that he's been working for Penndot for about 14 years. Penndot is the PA version of where you get your driver's license, toll collector's and things like of that nature. He said that early on their boss said they had an open door policy where if you had a problem you could come in and talk to him. Well he did that once because he had a problem with someone and his boss told him to fix it himself.

Now, why would you say you have an open door policy and then not mean it? We discussed this and there was a friend of our facilitator there who said that bosses say that because they have to but they don't have to mean it. I also want to say that it's hard enough for Aspies to read body language every day which like for us, is almost equal to learning a foreign language, and then learn to read between the lines . I mean I've heard that statistics show that more & more children are being diagnosed with Asperger's and Autism very early in their lives. So, that being said, it's needs to become a more Aspie friendly world. I mean we do want to be treated like everyone else, however, we do need to be accommated to some degree. That's all I can think of to say for now.

 

[Xodlirv]

As to why his boss would say one thing and do another, my best guess is that it's official PennDOT policy that supervisors have to have an "open door policy", but this boss in particular didn't want to adhere to it, at least not in that situation, for one reason or another.

 

[Leo tickles]

Working for a company, most company, if not any, involves working under somebody that gets treated like shit by another somebody.

So, your pay sucks for what you do, their pay sucks for what they do, and the big wigs make all the money off of customers who get polite services from people who are deathly afraid of getting fired. That frustration gets taken out on co-workers.

 

[chicago]

I feel like how can you know what happened in that situation if you just heard it from one side? Just because his boss told him to solve the problem himself, doesn't negate that he has an open door policy. I don't know that open door policy means "i will solve all your problems" policy. Perhaps, this person didn't hear what he wanted to when he brought up the issue to his boss, and that probably affected the way he told his side of the story to you and thus affected your interpretation of the situation. Always gotta take shit like this with a grain of salt.

 

[rdhd]

Maybe the boss didn't know how to handle it, so instead of admitting that, he just said the dumb thing (fix it yourself). And girl, I do feel for you, as my daughter has PDD-NOS (also in the autistic spectrum), and we have to deal with such things constantly - trying to explain why the real world doesn't accommadate you (she is in her upper 20's now). No easy answer, wish there was.

 

[shiftdown]

Pm sent

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

Maybe the boss didn't know how to handle it, so instead of admitting that, he just said the dumb thing (fix it yourself). And girl, I do feel for you, as my daughter has PDD-NOS (also in the autistic spectrum), and we have to deal with such things constantly - trying to explain why the real world doesn't accommadate you (she is in her upper 20's now). No easy answer, wish there was.

I am so glad you understand where I am coming from, it's a nice relief.

 

[paracarl44]

I am glad to read that you are in group therapy.

This is an ideal way to deal with your problems. Unfortunately there are people who do not want to get involved with personal situations.

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

I feel like how can you know what happened in that situation if you just heard it from one side? Just because his boss told him to solve the problem himself, doesn't negate that he has an open door policy. I don't know that open door policy means "i will solve all your problems" policy. Perhaps, this person didn't hear what he wanted to when he brought up the issue to his boss, and that probably affected the way he told his side of the story to you and thus affected your interpretation of the situation. Always gotta take shit like this with a grain of salt.

Okay well first of all, I am only going to hear the situation from his side because I don't think I will hear the other side of the story as to why his boss says he has an open door policy and then doesn't follow through with it. Sometimes you don't always get both sides. Also the idea of an "open door policy" is supposed to mean that his employees should be able to come in at any time with anything they want to discuss. That's usually what an open door policy means. I mean this member who belongs to my social group for people on the Autism spectrum had an issue with another co-worker and he tells his boss about it and he doesn't want to help him which means that the so called "open door policy" is bullshit. The boss only said that because it was policy and he's not following through with what he said. Look, I only know what he said and I am sure that this kind of thing happens in other companies also. Just so you know, not everyone is always able to solve their own problems.

 

[chicago]

Okay well first of all, I am only going to hear the situation from his side because I don't think I will hear the other side of the story as to why his boss says he has an open door policy and then doesn't follow through with it. Sometimes you don't always get both sides.

Exactly. That's why it's important not to jump to conclusions and take everything this person said about his boss as absolute fact, because you are not getting all the information.

Also the idea of an "open door policy" is supposed to mean that his employees should be able to come in at any time with anything they want to discuss. That's usually what an open door policy means. I mean this member who belongs to my social group for people on the Autism spectrum had an issue with another co-worker and he tells his boss about it and he doesn't want to help him which means that the so called "open door policy" is bullshit. The boss only said that because it was policy and he's not following through with what he said. Look, I only know what he said and I am sure that this kind of thing happens in other companies also. Just so you know, not everyone is always able to solve their own problems.

It seems to me that an open door policy means you can go and talk about whatever issue you may have. I don't automatically assume that it also means that the boss will then solve every problem you put in front of him, though. Adults in a professional setting should be able to work with each other in order to get the job done, despite personal dislikes. It isn't the job of the boss to handle personal drama or be a referee for petty arguing.

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

Exactly. That's why it's important not to jump to conclusions and take everything this person said about his boss as absolute fact, because you are not getting all the information.



It seems to me that an open door policy means you can go and talk about whatever issue you may have. I don't automatically assume that it also means that the boss will then solve every problem you put in front of him, though. Adults in a professional setting should be able to work with each other in order to get the job done, despite personal dislikes. It isn't the job of the boss to handle personal drama or be a referee for petty arguing.

I agree with you to a certain degree. However, there are some exceptions where some people might have trouble solving their own issues especially if you have a learning disability or are on the Autism Spectrum. I personally think bosses should go out of their to help those employees like that, I mean they're not obligated or anything but I think it reflects better on them if they do. Also, even though I am only hearing one side, I tend to go with that side because I am not likely to hear the other side. I mean I would think that a boss would at least encourage their employees to get along even if they don't like each other one hundred percent.

 

[chicago]

I agree with you to a certain degree. However, there are some exceptions where some people might have trouble solving their own issues especially if you have a learning disability or are on the Autism Spectrum. I personally think bosses should go out of their to help those employees like that, I mean they're not obligated or anything but I think it reflects better on them if they do. Also, even though I am only hearing one side, I tend to go with that side because I am not likely to hear the other side. I mean I would think that a boss would at least encourage their employees to get along even if they don't like each other one hundred percent.

How can you blindly agree with someone if you don't have all the facts? Even if you can't talk to the boss, that doesn't mean that what you heard was 100% accurate. You have to assume that perhaps the version of the story you did receive was colored by possible emotions or perceptions of the person who was dealing with said problem and then felt that another arose when the discussion with the boss didn't go as hoped.

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

Well okay I believe most of what his side of the story was and I'll just leave it at that.