{"id":38869,"date":"2025-08-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/?p=38869"},"modified":"2025-08-28T17:10:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T21:10:44","slug":"should-you-tell-your-new-employer-about-your-adhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/articles\/should-you-tell-your-new-employer-about-your-adhd\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you tell your new employer about your ADHD?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/white-square.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-34850\" style=\"width:20px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/white-square.png 200w, https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/white-square-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:40% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"930\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Disclosing-ADHD-at-a-New-Job-min.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-38870 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Disclosing-ADHD-at-a-New-Job-min.png 930w, https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Disclosing-ADHD-at-a-New-Job-min-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Disclosing-ADHD-at-a-New-Job-min-768x515.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Just like beginning a school year or heading off to college, starting a new job brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. It can be a blur of onboarding, training, meetings, new names and faces \u2014 an adjustment for anyone, especially those living with ADHD.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of those new-job jitters can involve when or if to disclose your ADHD diagnosis to your new manager. Predictably, the answer is complicated and personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As \u201cthe new person,\u201d it\u2019s natural to overanalyze every decision or interaction. There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to informing your new employer about your ADHD diagnosis, but asking the right questions early can help you make the call that\u2019s best for you and your future success in a new role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why disclose your diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to accommodations is a common motivation to disclosing an ADHD diagnosis. ADHD is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which means you may be entitled to workplace accommodations if you formally disclose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accommodations are considered any workplace adjustments that can help aid performance. They can range from flex time and telecommuting to noise-canceling headphones or access to an enclosed workspace. However, an ADHD diagnosis alone doesn\u2019t entitle an employee to accommodations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The diagnosis must be documented in writing and must show that ADHD \u201csubstantially limits a major life activity\u201d (such as a job).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The accommodations shouldn\u2019t place an undue hardship on the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must show that you are otherwise qualified to perform the job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The company must have at least 15 employees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another reason for disclosing could be the old adage that honesty is the best policy. Some might be tempted to inform their managers to get ahead of any potential issues, such as taking longer to complete tasks or missed deadlines. And while some managers may be understanding and accommodating, it\u2019s no guarantee that all will be receptive to the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Things to consider<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the day, sharing your ADHD diagnosis is sharing personal information \u2014 and as is the case with sharing any type of personal information, there are things to think through before doing so:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>No going back <\/strong>\u2013 Once you\u2019ve shared your diagnosis, you can\u2019t take it back, so make sure you\u2019re prepared for it to be documented.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Misinformation abounds <\/strong>\u2013 There\u2019s still a wide lack of knowledge and understanding around ADHD. Stigmas still exist, so before fully disclosing, it may be wise to broach the subject in a casual way and gauge the reaction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The rumor mill <\/strong>\u2013 People talk in the workplace, so when the information is out there, you can\u2019t control who finds out and how they will react.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Thinking it through<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re deciding on whether or not to disclose your ADHD diagnosis in your new role, it\u2019s worth taking a beat to ask yourself a few questions that might help clarify your decision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who do I need to tell and why?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do the people I am informing seem like they will handle the disclosure with confidentiality and without judgment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can I manage my ADHD and make adjustments on my own or do I need additional support?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does this new environment feel ripe for distractions?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff9e4\">\u201cIt can change things for the better if the person receiving it understands what it means and is willing to help the person adapt the job to best suit their brain,\u201d psychologist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.addept.org\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marcy Caldwell, PsyD<\/a> says. \u201cRevealing [the diagnosis] also helps reduce stigma and allows people with ADHD to show up more wholly as themselves, not trying to change, blend, or assimilate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Succeeding without disclosing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclosing your ADHD diagnosis isn\u2019t the only path to setting yourself up to best function in the workplace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI encourage clients to frame it from the symptom lens versus the diagnosis,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sophrosynecounseling.com\/darleshiabibbins-spikes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Darleshia Bibbins-Spikes<\/a>, LCSW. For example, approach conversations by presenting not only the symptom, but also a solution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI work best with short check-ins. Would it be okay to do a 10-minute sync twice a week?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI really benefit from regular feedback on my performance. Can we schedule weekly meetings to touch base on how I\u2019m doing while I get up and running?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI get easily distracted near the break room. Could I move to a quieter spot?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI\u2019ve found that blocking off focus time in the morning helps me deliver better work. Can I block that time on my calendar?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding creative ways to get accommodations should help you improve your job performance while keeping your ADHD diagnosis private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Feel it out<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Give yourself time to settle in. There\u2019s no timeline for deciding whether or not to share your diagnosis. Learn the ropes, build relationships, and feel out what kind of support, if any, you might need. Then revisit the decision when you have all the information and feel ready to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you disclose immediately, later, or not at all, your success isn\u2019t defined by your ADHD diagnosis. It\u2019s shaped by how you advocate for your needs, build trust, and work in a way that works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff9e4;color:#fff9e4\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.additudemag.com\/should-you-tell-your-boss-about-your-adhd\/?srsltid=AfmBOooBkWntanIFBcSsdLHKTwED7DTwRurBlAue3wQPjewD4uACmshN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Should You Tell Your Boss About Your ADHD? \u2013 ADDitude Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.additudemag.com\/adhd-law-americans-with-disabilities-act\/?srsltid=AfmBOorzvrmJgMjF8exy6PInujupIBSfZkXCWyzotTfQf1pIQykEkCQU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Your Rights to ADHD Accommodations at Work \u2013 ADDitude Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chadd.org\/attention-article\/disclose-your-adhd-what-to-consider-first\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disclose Your ADHD? What to Consider First \u2013 CHADD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chadd.org\/attention-article\/disclosing-your-adhd-diagnosis\/#:~:text=Before%20proceeding%2C%20ask%20yourself%2C%20%E2%80%9C,Keep%20it%20simple.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disclosing Your ADHD Diagnosis \u2013 CHADD<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just like beginning a school year or heading off to college, starting a new job brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":38870,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[82,21,90],"content_type":[39],"class_list":["post-38869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-adult-adhd","tag-mental-health","tag-tools-tips","content_type-article"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38869"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=38869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}