Summary
It is important for Persons Who Stutter to practice effective self-advocacy in the workplace. Self-Advocacy is personalized and reflective of a person’s past experiences, personality, and outlook. In this Article, Mathew offers tips on self-advocacy in the workplace.Bullets
- You are worthy of respect in the workplace. Having a stutter does not disqualify you from a career and making contributions at work.
- Self-Advocacy is a personal matter. Everyone’ approach or style is different.
- It is important that each Person Who Stutters stay positive, know your rights, be persistent, communicate in writing, and take care of themselves.
- Remain professional when advocating for yourself. It will not help you to become agitated, upset, or angry.
In this Article, relying on my human resources background, I offer tips on self-advocacy in the workplace. Self-advocacy is a personal matter. Not everyone will have the same style or approach. The following tips are not in any particular or ranked order. It is a personal choice of how much weight or emphasis to give each tip.
Stay Positive
Never forget that you are worthy of respect. Having a stutter does not mean that you cannot enjoy a career and make contributions to your workplace. Do not let negative stereotypes or attitudes about stuttering frame how you see yourself. It is easy to fall into trap of low self-esteem and fears that your employment opportunities will be artificially limited because you stutter. Stay positive and speak with confidence. If you have experienced discrimination or abuse in your workplace, please know it is not your fault.
Know Your Rights and Fight for Them
You must self-advocate for yourself. I appreciate some people are shy or may dislike confrontation or you are painfully shy or anxious, but the only person who can truly advocate your rights in the workplace is you.
Find a style of self-advocacy that works for you. Stand up for your rights. You also need to know when to escalate an issue or your concerns within your employer’s hierarchy, but also by speaking to a lawyer or presenting a human rights complaint.
I also recommend learning about the laws that protect your rights. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, the human rights and/or accessibility-related laws that are applicable to your workplace. If you were not aware, the Canadian Legal Information Institute provides efficient, open, and free online access to judicial decisions and legislative documents.
Remember: Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease
What I mean here is to say that you need to be persistent. Remember that you alone need to protect your interests. Do not expect or rely on others to protect your interests. If you are waiting on a reply, update, answer, or decision, do not become complacent. It is important to not be unreasonable with deadlines but do not become complacent either.
It is important to remain professional when advocating for yourself. It will not help you to become agitated, upset, or angry. You need to remember to stay calm. Do not back down but do not stoop to the behaviour of others by demonstrating the same behaviour or using their language (e.g., profanity). Always keep the moral high ground. Others may perceive you as being pushy or demanding, rather than well-informed. That is their problem, not yours.
Clarity is essential. Stick to the facts and be direct and honest. Do not be afraid to use “I” statements. Be direct with your employer about any inappropriate, harassing, or discriminatory behaviour directed at you. If you want your employer to address your concerns, they need to know the details. Remember to address the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How.
Communicate in writing to create a record
Wherever possible, I recommend communicating in writing, it creates a record and releases you from having to try to remember details or events, sometimes far after the event. Memories can fade but a record provides a memorial of what transpired, especially if your rights are not being respected. If you do have to speak to another person, I recommend creating a written record of the conversation as soon as possible.
Take Care of Yourself
Be kind to yourself and practice self-care. Rely on your friends, family, and loved ones. Remember: it is not a sign of weakness to ask for, or seek, help. If your employer has an Employee Assistance Program or equivalent services, access those resources.
Remember: As a Person Who Stutters, you are not alone. If you have not already done so, look at the CSA’s Events calendar to find a self-help group near you. If there are no registered self-help groups in your jurisdiction, consider starting one yourself 😊 You can contact our Rhea Bhalla, our Volunteer and Support Groups Coordinator for more information.
If there a particular employment topic or issue that you would like me to address in a future article, let me know! You can reach me at: mathew.yaworski@stutter.ca All correspondence will be treated as confidential.
Disclaimer: The opinions and statements in this article are solely the author’s and do not represent the Government of Canada or the Department of Justice Canada. Nothing in this article should be construed or relied upon as legal advice or opinion. Consult a lawyer for specific advice concerning your situation.
Mathew Yaworski, BCL/JD, is the CSA's Employment Advocacy Coordinator. Mathew is a litigator for the Government of Canada practicing management-side labour and employment law. Before receiving his law degree, Mathew held senior positions in human resources (labour relations) with various public sector employers.