Son's Problem at Work

[NIrelandGillian]

My son is autistic with learning difficulties but has a job in a butcher's through a supported employment scheme. A big problem he has there is that he is slow at his work. The other employees keep telling him he is being too slow and making snide remarks about it, but he doesn't know how to work any faster and still do the job right. He is quite upset about it, so I told him that the Pharisees were always criticising Jesus and that he should pray that God would help him not to get upset when the other employees have a go at him.

Has anyone else had to face this problem in the workplace?

Gillian

 

[RCF]

NIG,

I think everyone faces this or similar problems in the workplace. Coworkers always seem to have little competitions to see who is faster, or who can sell the most, or who can sweep the floor the fastest. Every place is different and every worker is unique.

Here is what I would focus on. 1. Does your son like the work? Is this what he wants to do? 2. Is this how he can utilize his skills best?

If the answer to these is Yes, then he will probably improve with his efficiency. If he is doing a good enough job for his employer, then his fellow employees are like the Pharisees, in that they really don't matter. It may not be easy, but it may be worth the struggle.

If the answer to either is no, you and he may need to consider what path your on, and see if it is leading to where you want and need to go.

As a kid, I started playing the trumpet. I was timid, shy, and it took a while for me to get the hang of it, but I got better, even really good. Eventually, I went professional. That is when I got a rude awakening. Now while in high school, I was exceptional. In the pro world of music, I was merely acceptable.

I realized that for me, answer 1 was yes, but as for number 2, well, not really. I could have gotten along and had a very wonderful mediocre career, but that was not where and what I really wanted. The learning curve caught up to me.

As for your son, you know him much better than any of us. As the father of a boy with AS, I feel for you and will place you squarely in my prayers.

On a side note, while going to college, I worked in a meat market for a grocery store. The cold meat, often frozen, created quite a difficult hurdle for me. Again, I realized this wasn't for me. I couldn't stand for my hands to freeze. One thing you can look into to possibly help out is some kind of water proof gloves that may alleviate the painfully cold environment. It may even help with speed as well.

In brotherly love,
RCF

 

[NIrelandGillian]

Hi RCF,

Thank you for your helpful reply and for your promised prayer. That is such a blessing to my son and me.

The speed thing is not a competition and both colleagues and employers - it's a husband and wife team - are constantly complaining about my son's speed. His training was in food preparation but he is often asked to do other jobs on the property, such as cleaning up chicken dung and cleaning windows. The shop is on the land where the owner and his family live and there is always something to be done around the property. M often says he 'made a terrible mistake going there', but employment is difficult to find here, especially for people with special needs. I tell him that God has placed him there and we pray every night that he will be able to work faster and that God will help him to enjoy his work. We also pray that God will bless the people who work with him and that they will realize they need Jesus and become Christians.

Thanks again for your prayerful interest.

God bless you richly!

Gillian