Nicholas Atherton, 33, says he has lost several jobs for rolling his eyes at senior staff and asking colleagues if they were “cuddle buddies”
A man who sustained a brain injury following a car crash claims he has been dismissed from multiple jobs – as the accident left him with ‘no filter’. Nicholas Atherton, 33, said his injury means he lacks inhibition – leading him to make inappropriate comments to colleagues or roll his eyes at senior staff.
He was dismissed from his most recent position at a restaurant after complaints arose when he asked colleagues who were in a relationship whether they were “cuddle buddies”. On a separate occasion, a complaint emerged from a younger colleague when he remarked “good girl” after she helped him at work.
Nicholas believes it is “unfair” because he informs employers in the hospitality sector about his injury during interviews, but he says they “fail” to inform their staff about his limitations. Nicholas hopes he is raising greater awareness of his condition because he “just wants to work”.
He said: “Lack of inhibition is a recognised symptom of brain injuries. My last job I enjoyed it, I was in my element. I was at the front desk going ‘hello folks good evening, welcome’ and hosting and smiling.
“And then my brain thought two things to say to people and they weren’t appropriate things and I have no inhibition so I just said them. One of the girls helped me out and I just said ‘good girl thank you’ and she took offence for that.
“Two other people said they were going out and I went ‘oh, you’re cuddle buddies’ and they were offended and complained and got me sacked. There was also a supervisor who said to one of the managers that I was rolling my eyes at him when the supervisor was giving me instructions.
“I do that to ensure I am not distracted by other things. It is a way to process information.”
Nicholas, from Gloucester, was driving home after a long day when he was involved in the crash. He was at Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and Assisted Living in Bristol from December 2015 until January 2017.
Nicholas had to learn how to walk again and was left with a big scar on his head following the injury. With his love for customer service and hospitality, Nicholas went back into the business but has so far only been able to find jobs that offer him zero hour contracts.
And despite having been called a “wizard” at his jobs, complaints have been made by colleagues several times. After being sacked from his last job, Nicholas appealed, and his employer admitted not following correct disciplinary procedures. However they stood by the decision to send him home.
Experts say a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) can affect people in many different ways. They say being disinhibited is a symptom of head injury as are mood swings and personality changes. They can also cause memory loss, confusion, poor judgement, slurred speech and unsteadiness.
Charity Headway Gloucestershire, which has supported Nick, says employers of people with brain injuries should make other staff aware that the condition may cause the person to say inappropriate things.
CEO Julie Reader-Sullivan told the BBC: “Employers are responsible for all employees. So it needs to be fair. It’s not about saying, ‘forgive that person because they are saying something inappropriate’.
“It is about saying if this happens, this is what you should or shouldn’t do. People often say they are a different person before and after the brain injury. Some people will say it’s that hidden element of brain injury.”
His mum Ann Atherton, 69, added: “They weren’t interested enough to learn and to educate their staff as to what it was. And so they were just allowed to take offence without realising that Nick wasn’t meaning anything – they didn’t educate them.
“But the last letter I received says that this has nothing to do with Nick’s ability to do the job because he was a wizard at it. He was a welcoming host which I think it’s very sad when you’ve got someone who’s obviously so good at it.”
Nicholas hopes he is spreading more awareness of his condition because he “just wants to work”. He also hopes employers are more understanding in the next job he gets. When he is available he also helps out at his local pub the Imperial Inn in Gloucester – where he occasionally serves drinks behind the bar.
Nicholas said: “I just have to live with it because I can’t go in and grab them and say ‘give me a job’. Quite sadly I am just used to this now. But I am good at what I do, I am not just worth of collecting glasses.”
His mum added: “Since he was let go from his last job it has really lowered his self esteem and because I am his mother I can see it.
“He has a brain injury and it would be nice if people respected that and treated that with compassion. This man is good at what he does and he deserves a chance”.
Headway produces identity cards which state that someone has a brain injury and how it affects them.
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