WORK / LIFE HP INNOVATION FALL / WINTER 2022 69 was hired in October 2020 . Baynes-Feinberg was diagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) and says the ability to work from home has given her a sense of control that wasn ’ t possible in a conventional office setting .
“ HP offices have adopted an open-seating design , which can be incredibly distracting for someone who has ADHD ,” she says . “ I ’ ve noticed that on days when I do go into the office , my productivity decreases , and I end up working late into the night at home to catch up .”
Baynes-Feinberg says that , along with eliminating the stress of her daily commute , working from home has allowed her to create the environment that ’ s best
Similarly , the same accommodations that make work accessible for people with disabilities can help employees who have other needs . Screen readers and voice control options on mobile devices help people with low vision , and also help everyone check their email or send texts while on the go . The closed-captioning feature on many videoconferencing platforms that can help someone with a hearing disability follow a meeting in real time can also help someone whose primary language is different from others in the meeting , or who needs extra time to take in information .
Nash says he often uses the read-aloud feature of Microsoft Word to help him proofread documents ,
THE SAME ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MAKE WORK ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN HELP EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE OTHER NEEDS .
for her . She is able to plan micro-breaks as needed throughout the day when she needs to reset or shift focus , and she has a workspace with dual monitors to support the way she works .
“ Leaning into my ADHD , I tend to have many computer windows open and a lot of irons in the fire ,” she says . “ The dual monitors are vital .”
While none of these factors are specifically designed to address ADHD , together they create conditions that remove distractions , relieve stress , and help Baynes-Feinberg focus and work productively .
“ My manager especially has been incredibly supportive and is not obsessed with where I do my work , but the quality of my work ,” she says .
Accessibility helps everyone Nash says that , far from being one-offs , making work accessible for employees with disabilities benefits everyone . The classic example , he says , is the cutouts in sidewalks designed for people using wheelchairs , which also benefit people pushing strollers or wheeling luggage . while closed-captioning technology has even helped him be a better ally in his own interactions .
“ If I see the computer is struggling to keep up with my cadence , I know I ’ m probably talking too fast ,” he says . “ It ’ s helped me be a better partner in conversations .”
Shifting to focus on how work gets done , not where In the 2021 book
Out of Office , coauthors Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen interviewed employees and managers around the world to understand how the past few years of widespread remote work will impact the future .
Warzel says what they learned suggests it ’ s not where one works , but how one works that will matter most . Nash agrees , noting that making accommodations for employee needs — whether it ’ s specific technology , a certain kind of chair , a different monitor or headset , or the flexibility to work from home — will be crucial .
“ As a company , we want to be inclusive ,” Nash says . “ That means [ accommodating ] different work environments so we have access to the best talent , and that talent can do their best work .”