Open plan offices are designed for collaboration, but for many autistic people they bring constant noise, movement, bright light and interruptions. The problem sits with the environment, not with you. Still, while employers catch up, there is plenty you can do to make an open plan office more workable. Here are eight practical tips.
1. Work out what affects you
Start by noticing what drains you most. Is it background chatter, phones ringing, overhead lighting, strong smells, people walking behind you or being interrupted mid-task? Keep a short note for a week or two. Knowing your specific sensory triggers makes it far easier to find solutions and to explain them to others.
2. Ask for reasonable adjustments
Employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, and that often includes autistic people. In an open plan office, useful adjustments might include noise-cancelling headphones, a desk away from busy walkways, dimmer or natural lighting, access to a quiet room, or the option to work from home on focus-heavy days. Our disclosure templates can help you put a request in writing.
3. Build a sensory toolkit
Keep a few things at your desk that help you regulate: headphones or ear defenders, sunglasses or a cap for harsh lighting, a fidget item, a water bottle and a snack. Having them to hand means you can adjust quickly rather than waiting until you’re overloaded.
4. Agree signals with your colleagues
Let colleagues know when you need uninterrupted time and when you’re happy to chat. Some teams use a simple signal, such as headphones on meaning “message me rather than tap my shoulder”, or a status in your chat app. Clear signals help everyone, not just you.
5. Plan your day around your energy
Use calendars, task lists and planned breaks to shape your day. If the office is quieter early in the morning, save your most demanding work for then. Short breaks away from your desk, even a walk round the block, can stop sensory input from building up.
6. Choose your seat carefully
If your office has hot desking or flexible seating, pick a spot that suits you: away from the kitchen, printers and main doors, with your back to a wall rather than a walkway. If seats are allocated, ask whether you can have a regular desk. Not having to find a new place to sit every morning is a reasonable request in itself.
7. Encourage neuroinclusion at work
If you feel comfortable, suggest that your employer looks at neurodiversity training or reviews the office environment. A quieter, more predictable workplace benefits everyone. Our article on why every office needs a quiet area makes the case well.
8. Find your allies
Colleagues who understand your needs can make a real difference, whether that’s someone who sends you an agenda before meetings or a manager who backs your adjustment requests. If your organisation has a disability or neurodiversity network, it’s worth joining.
For employers
If you manage an open plan office, don’t wait for staff to ask. Our article on how modern open plan offices fail autistic employees sets out the common problems, and our guide to helping autistic employees work effectively from home covers the alternative.
How Enna can help
For employees, a workplace needs assessment identifies the adjustments that will actually help, from seating to sensory equipment, and gives your manager a clear plan to follow. For organisations, our neuroinclusion audits review your physical environment and working practices, and our Reasonable Adjustments: Putting It Into Practice workshop helps managers act on what they learn. Book a call to talk about your workplace.
