Have I been discriminated against?

CT99
CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
in Work

i recently went for an interview and the panel were aware I have ADHD as we discussed it.

At the end of the interview the interviewer stated “I know you've probably heard this a million times, and its probably an ADHD thing but you need to slow down when you’re talking? Just take a breath and just pause and slow it right down”

Another one asked “Do you get nervous?”

And I responded “yeah I get nervous, same as anybody else but I think this is just the way I am. Its just one of my traits, I suppose I just speak quite fast but it isnt an issue with anyone I work with”

And the same person then repeated “ yeah its probably just an ADHD thing but yeah just slow down when you’re talking and let the audience take it in”

I didn’t get the job and am awaiting the actual feedback regarding the result but thats what I was given on the day.

It felt like they were telling me I had to mask the traits of my disability and I left feeling quite invalidated really. As though I was being judged on my adhd traits rather than what I actually said or my ability, and achievements.

I wasnt offered any reasonable adjustments, I didn't request any. I did receive the questions the day before but thats company policy. Everybody receives them at the same time. I’m not sure if any other reasonable adjustments exist at present.

I havent made a complaint as I still work for them and I don't think it would do me any favours to mention it. I have voiced concerns about it to people but nothing formally.

I probably won't but I would like to mention it, I know the advice was probably well intentioned and I wouldn't want that person reprimanded for it but I would like to mention it as it could be problematic if somebody else is told the same thing and reacts badly to it.

Does anybody have any thoughts? Am I just being sensitive?

Thanks

Comments

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,887 Championing

    In an ideal world, those conducting interviews, they would be well educated in dealing with disabled candidates, but unfortunately we don't live in the ideal world. I would just chalk it down to experience, there is likely nothing to be gained from complaining.

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    Yeah I thought as much.

    I know plenty of people have far bigger issues than ADHD, just kind of bites a bit when you work hard on yourself and do a great job but get overlooked for the way you talk.

    Ah well. Such is the corporate world.

  • Dynamisante
    Dynamisante Community Member Posts: 65 Connected

    hey, just giving you reassurance on your recent interview, I feel imop that they took everything into account and were giving you positive constructive feedback, I’m sure you did amazingly well as that’s what it seems like, as above poster says it’s all experience for your future interviews, I wish you the best of luck xxxx

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    thanks, it didnt really feel that well and apparently the scores were worst than the last one which I put their feedback into practice for.

    Its a tough break but ill get over it.

    Thanks for your positive response and encouragement though, genuinely

  • Dynamisante
    Dynamisante Community Member Posts: 65 Connected

    you are more than welcome, it’s mega hard when unfortunately we are classed as seeing the world slightly different to the ‘main stream’ whatever that means, but things are improving and people are becoming more educated , that’s a good thing, wishing you the best of luck in your next interview, you will smash it, keep up with your confidence, you are so worth it.

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    i think ill wait for the subject access request but half of me thinks anything potentially incriminating would have been removed anyway.

    At least ill have an idea of where I went wrong and what they're actually looking for.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,388 Championing

    I think it depends on whether the job involves talking to customers or colleagues regularly.

    If people are likely to miss things because you're speaking too quickly then that could impact the work done. I don't think that is discrimination at all. I have speech issues myself and would not be offended if they were mentioned as part of a job interview.

    I have also failed job interviews for showing too much anxiety, which again is perfectly acceptable in my opinion.

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    No I dont have any communication issues per se and none of the people I work with have ever voiced a concern, none of my direct managers have any issues with my comms.

    I've been told by my direct manager that i’d be great in the role because I can communicate my ideas very well and I have all this in writing.

    I think sometimes they just have people in mind for the job and the interview process is just for show. Its regularly discussed within the organisation that they do this. They just apply some subjective measure to rule you out so they can overlook the objective side of things and justify their position. They've sort of acknowledged this with recent policy changes but nothing ever actually changes. They’ll just continue to do what they do.

    If there was a history there of issues I could understand it but there's not. I put the exact feedback I was given after interview 1 into practice for interview 2. No comment was made on my communication after the first and I didnt speak any differently.

    To be honest ill probably just forget about the whole thing. I know im wasting my time bringing it up. Ill just finish what I need to finish and start looking for another job. Its their loss at the end of the day.

    Its 2026 and were still being judged on traits, image and characteristics rather than ability. Its not even worth wasting any more time on.

  • Mr_Shoes_Tied
    Mr_Shoes_Tied Community Member Posts: 157 Empowering

    I wouldn't personally see it as discrimination, more them acknowledging that you may not be able to help it but providing feedback anyway.

    If they'd kept repeating for you to slow down and held it against you, with no acknowledgement that you may not be able to help it.

    Also if you want adjustments, you need to ask for them. Most job applications say to let them know if you need adjustments, but even if they don't, you need to request them if you need them.

    I hope you get the answers you're looking for and good luck with your search!

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1145097#Comment_1145097

    My thinking there was that she attributed it specifically to a trait of my ADHD, then told me to adjust it and it obviously affected my score.

    By the book, the right thing to do would have been to mention it early in the interview, if it was actually a problem, and then ask was there any adjustment to the interview that could be made to assist me.

    I don't usually need reasonable adjustments though, I've never had to request them as nobody has ever raised it as an issue, bare in mind i’ve worked at this place for 4 and a half years and been in the profession itself for over 19.

    Im not really sure what she expects me to do about it either… i’m already on medication. Its not like you I can switch it on and off.

    Anyway, im just playing devils advocate at this point but Im still annoyed about it.

    They probably know what they did.

  • bookrabbit
    bookrabbit Community Member Posts: 288 Pioneering

    I think it is difficult for people to follow the way those of us with ADHD speak quickly and often jump from topic to topic. I know what I am saying often gets missed because of this. If the interviewers couldn't follow the thread of what you were saying I don't think it is discrimination for them to ask you to slow down but perhaps rather an indication that they wanted to understand you. Similarly asking if you were nervous could have been an attempt to be empathetic.

    I always go over and over and over and over everything after any interaction with people and I am sure you do too. What I have learned is that hanging onto worrying about it is really bad for me and putting it aside as soon as possible is for the best. So if I were you I would try to stop thinking about doing something about it perhaps making a note to self about trying to speak slower in the next similar high stress interaction in order to help people with slower minds keep up.

  • CT99
    CT99 Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    Thanks for all your answers guys.

    Ill wait for the subject access request and see what comes back in terms of their recorded notes and scoring.

    I can work from there. They havent actually contacted me regarding feedback, even though they said they would so that's another disappointing performance.

    I think its clear I should start planning my exit. So, i’ll do that. Its their loss.

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