With today marking the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a colleague at home care software firm has revealed how her neurodiversity, the right to work from home and supportive colleagues help her stay on top of her game.
Jess Davies works as a sales representative at the Slinfold-based firm and lives with OCD and anxiety.
鈥淢y OCD actually makes me a stronger salesperson,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 am highly organised, meticulous with details and ensure nothing and nothing slips through the cracks.聽
鈥淓very conversation goes into our sales system right down to, if they say they’ve got a dog, I’ll write that down! This helps me build genuine relationships with clients.鈥�
The condition is one that is often misunderstood, especially in the workplace.
Davies continued: 鈥淢y OCD makes me organised and highly attentive to detail. However, it can also go too far, which is why the right workplace support and strategies are so important.
鈥淎t university, I rewrote my dissertation three times. I did very well, but it came at a cost, with exhaustion and sleepless nights.鈥�
She has spoken specifically about the measures in place at the company which benefit her, explaining that members of the team go 鈥榖eyond box-ticking鈥�.聽
As a sales representative, she sometimes needs to attend business events and, here, she gets extra support.
Davies said: 鈥淲e have a mental health first aider, Monicka, who checks in on me and steps in if anyone feels overwhelmed.聽
鈥淎fter a particularly bad flare-up last year, we had regular calls and Monicka referred me for additional help.
鈥淥ur events coordinator provides a full itinerary, right down to where I can park. That really helps. If it gets overwhelming, I know I can step outside or head to a quiet space if needed.鈥�
Private healthcare and access to therapy also play a role but, according to Davies, it鈥檚 the everyday interactions that matter most.聽
鈥淢y manager is incredibly understanding and regularly updates me on how I am doing. With my OCD, I sometimes fear I am underperforming or at risk of being fired, even when I am actually excelling,鈥� she explained.
鈥淗aving regular feedback and communication helps counter those obsessive thoughts.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 a change at CareLineLive, my manager will always outline what it means for my job role, so I know exactly what to expect.聽
鈥淭hat kind of reassurance is vital. CareLineLive has been, without question, the most supportive employer I have had. They treat you as a person, not a number.鈥�
According to Davies, the ability to work from home is one factor that helps her manage her conditions.
She said: 鈥淎t home, I can step away, reset and return, without anyone even knowing. When you’re neurodiverse, noise can be overwhelming.
鈥淎t a previous noisy call centre role where home working wasn鈥檛 the norm, I eventually realised, ‘I can’t do this anymore鈥�. I left the job on my birthday.鈥�
鈥淪ometimes, people think you can鈥檛 work with OCD, but you absolutely can.
鈥淎t work, like anywhere else, I鈥檝e learned that my OCD is a part of me, but it doesn’t define me. It鈥檚 all about creating the right environment and making small but meaningful adjustments.鈥�