Neurodiversity at Work: A UK Employer Guide

What Is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in human brain function and behaviour. The term encompasses:

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) — approx. 1 in 100 people in the UK
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) — approx. 4% of adults
• Dyslexia — approx. 10% of the population
• Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) — approx. 5%
• Dyscalculia — approx. 3–6%
• Tourette's Syndrome — approx. 1 in 100

Estimates suggest 1 in 7 people (15%) in the UK is neurodivergent in some way. Many people are undiagnosed.

Legal Framework

Most neurodivergent conditions qualify as disabilities under the Equality Act 2010 if they have a substantial and long-term effect on day-to-day activities. This means:

• Reasonable adjustments are a legal duty, not a discretionary benefit
• Neurodivergent employees must not be treated less favourably because of their condition
• Indirect discrimination applies: a policy that disadvantages neurodivergent employees requires objective justification

ACAS Guidance: ACAS published updated neurodiversity at work guidance in 2023 (available at acas.org.uk).

Why It Matters for Business

Research from CIPD (2023) found: