Blog #183: Store Remodels and Their Impact on Neurodiverse Workers

In my 12 years with my day job at Stop and Shop first as a bagger and now as a porter, I have already seen a remodel on my store take place and right now, I will be seeing another remodel taking place around me.

When I first started working for Stop and Shop, I learned that every 7 to 10 years, all of the stores in the company go through a remodel. Remodels are the best way to update the store surroundings and make it more modern to the customers that come into our stores, mine included.

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But what if a store remodel can be impactful for neurodiverse workers? How can it be impactful? What are the mental health aspects of the store being remodeled?

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These are a ton of the questions that go through the mind of neurodiverse workers. You see, as you probably may have surmised, some of us in the autism/neurodiversity community don’t like change happening around us. If some of us could have our way, we would have the same cycle repeating over and over again.

But what is hard for neurodiverse workers to understand is that some change is good for the business. Case in point? I have been through numerous store managers, assistant managers, supervisors and colleagues throughout my 12 years at Stop and Shop.

Some changes are easy, some are not and a store remodel is no different.

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But I believe that store remodels can be approached the same way as something like a school safety drill or other real life trauma that may otherwise not be classified as a trauma to other people.

As a neurodiversity self-advocate/public speaker, one thing I would like to see at some point down the road is companies approach their neurodiverse workers and just explain to them that the store is going to be remodeled and perhaps even teach them ways to help them cope with the remodel.

When my store was remodeled during my first year in 2011, I was appointed to walk around the store and guide customers through the process of the remodel as it was happening. It helped me not only cope with the remodel of the store, but it also, on a personal note, helped me get refocused on life after the death of my paternal grandfather at that time.

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It’s also a good idea to also have neurodiverse workers partner up with veteran workers who had been through many remodels before. That way, the neurodiverse worker can have emotional support to get through the process.

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But in conclusion, store remodels are essential for both the employer and the customer. A lot of companies can go belly up if their stores cannot be remodeled every couple of years. However, with emotional and mental support, companies can help prepare neurodiverse workers for an eventual remodel that is not only good for the neurodiverse workers and the company itself, but the customers most of all.

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Catch you all later!!

#Diversity #Disability #Neurodiversity #Equality #Autism #Employment #MentalHealth #Inclusion