Managerial Practices for Supporting Employees with Autism in Fast-Food Workplaces in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

This paper examines managerial practices to support employees with autism in fast-food workplaces in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It aims to find out the practices used by the managers, the problems they encounter and how the practices have contributed to inclusion in the workplaces. The research design applied in the study was qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews on five managers who had a real experience on how to be a manager of employees with autism. The analysis of data was done using the thematic analysis in order to reveal important patterns and insights. The results show that structured communication, simplifying tasks, and frequent supervision are common methods used by the managers in helping the employees with autism. Nonetheless, issues like communication barriers, high-paced working conditions, and deficiency in organizational training continue to exist. Empathy, encouragement, and patience were identified as supportive leadership behaviors that had a significant positive impact on employee performance and inclusion. The research enhances the knowledge on front line management practices within service-based sectors and the significance of adaptive leadership and organizational support towards encouraging inclusive workplaces.