Masking at Work: Why this topic matters for Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being

Oftentimes, behavioral “norms” in the workplace, how we talk, dress, and act, can feel like an act. A recent New York Times article highlighted the phenomenon of “masking,” a tendency for individuals to hide natural behaviors in order to fit in, often stemming from pressure to conform or past negative experiences.

The article illustrates something many neurodivergent people know well:

“Masking can help anyone navigate challenging environments, like the workplace. But for people with autism and A.D.H.D., covering up unconventional social behavior can become a nonstop survival strategy… and when masking feels constant and unavoidable, it can create or exacerbate mental health problems.”

One point in the article stood out deeply. Sara Woods, a clinical psychologist at the University of Washington Autism Center, notes that masking all the time “suggests that the way you fundamentally are is a problem.”

If we take this seriously, then leadership awareness around masking is not just about supporting mental health, it’s about equity and inclusion. Overly enforced norms and implicit biases often cause others to misattribute differences in expression, behavior, and needs, and this makes it hard for those with those differences to thrive.

As a neuroaffirming work coach and organizational consultant, masking is high on my list of things I’d like to talk about.

Here are some questions for workplace leaders:

🔹 When is authenticity not just helpful but essential?
🔹 What happens to individual and organizational performance when employees feel they must shrink or inflate parts of themselves to fit in?
🔹 Are the workplace norms we enforce still serving us—or are some just outdated remnants of social standards that exclude people?

(We’ve already learned that ties and restrictive pantyhose add nothing to performance. What else might we be holding onto?)

Encouraging and accepting neurodiversity isn’t just “nice to have.” It directly impacts employee health, belonging, and the overall vibrancy of an organization. 

Creating environments where people don’t have to mask so much is one of the most meaningful ways we can build workplaces where all employees thrive. And it starts with awareness.

If you’d like to talk more about this topic, please book a time with me here!

~Marissa Mosunich
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