Why Neurodivergence Isnt an Excuse for Job Performance Issues

AITA for questioning whether neurodivergence excuses not following work procedures? Colleague insists on own way despite repeated corrections.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
26 Dec 2025

Why Neurodivergence Isnt an Excuse for Job Performance Issues

Some people treat “doing the job the way it’s taught” like it’s optional, and the workplace pays the price. In this retail setting, the OP is following the standard process because that’s what they were trained to do, even if it’s not their personal preference.

But one coworker keeps overriding the instructions. He gets corrected, ignores it, and insists his neurodivergence means he’s allowed to do everything his way, even when that causes the work to be incomplete or done poorly. The argument turns into a whole debate about whether being neurodivergent makes reprimands “ableist,” and OP ends up telling him to just follow the rules like everyone else.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Now he’s stuck wondering if he crossed a line by saying, basically, “It’s still a job.”

Original Post

I work a pretty basic retail job and were taught a certain way to do things. While it isn’t the way I would do them it’s the way they want them done so I do it.

I have a coworker that’s constantly doing things his way. No matter how many times he gets corrected he continues to say that way doesn’t work for him and will do it his way.

That also means the job doesn’t get done well or to the full extent. He keeps telling me it’s so rude that he gets corrected all the time because he’s neurodivergent and is going to do things the way that works for him.

I do get it to an extent but at the same time it’s a job and you’re getting paid to do it a certain way. He was complaining the other day about how he once again got reprimanded and was telling me how it’s so rude and I told him that I get it but at the same time we’re all neurodivergent and sadly if they want it done one way you do it that way or keep getting corrected.

He said his way works for him and it’s ableist to make him do it a different way. I told him it was up to him and while there may be multiple right ways to do something unless you can prove it’s equally efficient I can understand standardizing everything.