Top five practical tips for supporting employees with ADHD
By Ellen Plumer, Head of Outreach & Marketing at Ben
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) influences a person's behaviour and is identified through the analysis of their behaviour. Individuals with ADHD exhibit a consistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that disrupts the way they function day to day.
As you can imagine, it can be challenging for those with ADHD in the workplace, but with the right support, they can thrive.
So here are my top tips to support employees with ADHD in the workplace...
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Keep tasks engaging
Repetitive jobs can be a struggle for people with ADHD. Where possible, mix up tasks, provide problem-solving opportunities, or allow your employees to work in ways that keep them focused. -
Use visual and hands-on learning
Written guides are useful, but ADHD brains absorb information better through practical demonstrations, quick-reference visuals, and real-time feedback. -
Manage distractions, not movement
Expecting someone with ADHD to sit still or stay hyper-focused for hours is unrealistic. Encourage movement, fidgets, or short breaks to reset energy levels. -
Break work up
Break work up into clear, timed steps or chunks. Big tasks can feel overwhelming for those with ADHD. Breaking jobs into stages with time goals can help staff with ADHD stay focused, on track and help them avoid getting lost in the details. -
Give instant and specific feedback
Waiting until a performance review to give feedback doesn't work for employees with ADHD. People with ADHD brains respond best to immediate, specific feedback so they know what is working and what needs adjusting.
You can also share our tips, advice and support available here: www.ben.org.uk/neurodiversity.
More about neurodiversity
Embracing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergence in the workplace
'Neurodiversity' refers to the natural diversity in our human brains. Neurodivergence is when a person’s brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is ‘typical’ and neurotypical describes how the average person’s brain works.