Are we measuring job performance or social performance?

A friend once told me about an autistic coworker who had a reputation for being one of the most reliable people on the team. Projects were completed on time. Mistakes were rare. If someone needed help solving a problem, he was often the first person they called. Yet every performance review seemed to include the same criticism. He wasn't social enough. He didn't join group lunches. He rarely participated in office small talk. He avoided crowded after-work events and often kept conversations short and direct. What's interesting is that nobody questioned the quality of his work. The concern was almost entirely about how he interacted with people. That got me thinking about how much effort some autistic employees already spend navigating the workplace. For many autistic people, managing sensory distractions, understanding workplace expectations, handling meetings, and keeping up with social interactions can require a tremendous amount of energy on top of doing the actual job. Sometimes what looks like disinterest is actually exhaustion. I think it's reasonable to help autistic employees learn workplace communication skills when those skills make their jobs easier. But I also think workplaces should examine their own expectations. Are employees being evaluated on the work they produce or on how closely they match unwritten social rules? Those aren't always the same thing. Of course, it's important to recognize that many people with profound autism face challenges that make independent employment impossible. Some require lifelong support and may never have access to traditional workplace opportunities. That reality deserves recognition too. But for autistic individuals who are able to work, creating more flexible expectations around communication styles could make workplaces more inclusive without lowering standards. Good employees come in different forms. Not everyone who contributes to a team will do it through eye contact, small talk, or office social events. Sometimes the most valuable person in the room is the one quietly getting the work done.