Neurodiversity in the workplace: a critical analysis of existing literature and implications for HRD research and practice

Neurodiversity has become increasingly visible within organisational diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas; however, workplace research in this area remains fragmented and underdeveloped. This fragmentation limits the translation of inclusion discourse into sustainable organisational practice. This paper presents a semi-systematic literature review synthesising contemporary research on neurodiversity in the workplace published between 2019 and 2024. Drawing on 18 studies identified through Scopus, the review examines publication trends, dominant theoretical frameworks, methodologies, workplace barriers, accommodation practices, and reported outcomes associated with neurodivergent inclusion. The findings indicate a literature dominated by conceptual and review-based studies, with limited empirical and longitudinal evidence, a strong focus on autism spectrum disorder, and a concentration of research in Western contexts. While workplace accommodations related to sensory environments, leadership behaviours, co-worker support, and remote work are frequently discussed, their effectiveness is rarely evaluated systematically. The review further highlights ongoing tensions between medical, social, strengths-based, and business-case framings of neurodiversity. This paper contributes to HRD scholarship by clarifying the current state of workplace neurodiversity research, identifying critical gaps, and outlining directions for future research and HRD practice, thus emphasising the need for evidence-based leadership development, systemic learning interventions, and organisational redesign to support sustainable neurodiversity inclusion.