Should You Tell Your Boss?
Consider these steps before revealing to your employer your ADHD diagnosis.
Most professionals in the ADHD community recommend that you not disclose your condition at work. Instead, ask your supervisors and/or colleagues for accommodations that will help you be more productive – a door to your office, organizational software, flex time, and so on. To smooth your way in the workplace:
- Frame the request in a positive way. Say, “[This accommodation] would really help improve my productivity.”
- Ask for a daily check-in with your boss. This accommodation provides accountability by having you commit to goals and will help you learn how to prioritize.
- Trade responsibilities with a co-worker. Man the phones for an hour while the co-worker who usually does this enters data in a spreadsheet for you.
