Expecting inclusion, encountering barriers: a qualitative study of neurodivergent careers in India

Purpose This study examined the inclusive experiences of neurodivergent employees in India, focusing on their lived experiences (i.e. expectations vs realities) and their recommendations for improvement. Design/methodology/approach The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 clinically diagnosed neurodivergent participants, chosen through purposive and snowball sampling from diverse sectors across India. The responses were evaluated using abductive analysis to identify key themes. Findings The study revealed a significant gap between employees' expectations and the reality of inclusivity for neurodivergent individuals. The findings are discussed across three levels of the career ecosystem: micro (self-efficacy, cognitive integrity, precision and perfection issues, and irritation and anger issues), meso (collaboration and communication styles, career growth and promotion, flexible task structures and role clarity, and supervisor and peer support) and macro (systemic inclusion, policy and culture). Originality/value This study advances knowledge of career actors at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels of the career ecosystem and their intersections in the context of neurodivergent employees' experiences in India.