Hot desking can be a great solution for business looking to maximize space and efficiency, while reducing office rents. However, it can be very challenging for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

People with ASD often rely on routine. The certainty of what to expect during work each day provides comfort and helps them to cope with stress. Changes, even minor one such as moving desks, can be distressing.

Those with ASD also tend to prefer defined spaces that are used for a specific purpose – think of the break room all of the sudden being used for a meeting. Someone with ASD might find that confusing – the break room is for people to use during their breaks after all! The same logic is applied to desks. Having their own defined space helps them to feel in control and safe.

Also for those who have Prosopagnosia or ‘Face Blindness’, a condition where people struggle to recognise faces, hot desking can be a nightmare. Robyn Steward, a trainer and mentor to people with ASD, has both ASD and Prosopagnosia. She says that she often meets autistic people with face recognition problems, although they have rarely been diagnosed as having them. It’s a sign of how far under the radar the condition is, that there is nothing about Prosopagnosia anywhere on the National Autistic Society’s otherwise excellent website.

If you have introduced or are planning to start hotdesking, it needs to be carefully managed. Be sure to talk to your team about the upcoming changes – having a set date marked on the calendar can help those with ASD prepare and know what to expect. Going forward, having a schedule of who sits where and on what day, can provide further clarity and relief; even better if it’s a visual schedule as this is often easier to understand. These adjustments can really help to build a new routine and better ensure all your colleagues can hot desk with less stress.

SNAP hosts regular talks on a variety of topics which professionals are welcome to attend. For more information on upcoming specialist talks and workshops at SNAP as well as all our exciting events, please visit our website – snapcharity.org.