A visit to our dyehouse

Nobody is perfect, and nobody is the same.

Everyone has different backgrounds, experiences, and skills, and we believe this is a strength – both in society and in the family business we call DILLING.

In this article, you can meet some of the people who work daily to give you and your family comfortable wool clothing.

Our two dyehouse operators, Mai-Britt and Bent, share how their diagnosis has become a driving force with both advantages and challenges in their work. The factory manager, Charlotte, also gives insight into why it's important to create a workplace that accommodates everyone.

Why is it important for you to be open about your diagnosis?

It’s important because my colleagues understand why I sometimes react the way I do. It creates more understanding and a willingness to help and listen to each other.

I have the more introverted type of ADHD, with a lot of energy, and I got my diagnosis when I was 40 years old. Everything fell into place for me at the time. Earlier in my work life, I felt labelled as strange, and that’s not a nice feeling.

There’s a lot of focus on diagnosis today, and it’s so important not to use it as an excuse. For me, my diagnosis is a driving force to work on myself. I want to show that I can improve.

How do you feel about being listened to when you need support?

If I’m having a bad day, I talk to Charlotte in the morning, and she may move me to a different station where I can be more on my own. Sometimes I need to wear ear defenders, and so my colleagues know that I need to work by myself and retreat into my own world. I think they’re good at accepting that.

How does ADHD affect your work – for better or worse?

I’m very conscientious and keep going until the task is done. That’s why I think companies would see real progress if they hired more people with ADHD. But many of us also need to be reminded to take breaks, and I’m working on remembering that myself.

The best workday for me is when I can just get on with things and make progress. I enjoy working with others, but I feel most comfortable in my own company.

I’m a perfectionist to my core. I quickly get an overview and do whatever is necessary to solve a task.

Why is it important for your colleagues to know you have ADD?

I mentioned it at my job interview at DILLING’s dyehouse because, by being open about it, I feel like it helps me get off to a better start. I believe that honesty helps bring out the best in what I can do and who I am. Before, I used to fear that I might lose a job if my employer knew about it.

I got my diagnosis at 32, and over the years I had developed some bad habits. So, there’s been a whole mindset that I’ve had to change, and I’m still working on that.

What challenges have you faced?

I’m not great with time and punctuality. Sometimes, people also think I’m shouting because my voice is quite deep and loud, but I’m not always aware of it in the moment.

For example, I used to work on five different machines at once, which stressed me out, so Charlotte and I found that it works better if I focus on just one.

When I have bad days, I’ve also told Charlotte, and together we’ve dealt with it.

I believe challenges can be solved with good communication. That’s why I need to stay open about my ADD after sharing it from the start. It’s not enough to mention it once and then leave it.

Why is ADD an advantage in your work?

My ADD is a huge advantage for me because I'm a worker. When there’s a plan, I follow it through and don’t stop until we reach our goal. It also helps me and my colleagues understand why I am the way I am, what I can do, and what I can work on.

My diagnosis has motivated me to look inward and I know myself down to the smallest detail, which is an advantage in my work. The need for honest conversations with my colleagues has also made it feel like we’re a unit, supporting each other – even on the tough days.

Why is it important to you to accommodate people’s differences at the dyehouse?

I come from a family with many people who have different psychological and physical challenges, so it’s been important to me to create space for everyone.

Sometimes, I’ve underestimated what it takes, but I think we’ve learned a lot and are doing quite well now. We’ve found that openness and honest communication are the way forward.

Why doesn’t it work without openness?

We need to respect each other and individual needs. It benefits all of us when there’s a shared understanding of how we’re different and what we each bring to the table. That’s why it’s an advantage that people like Mai-Britt and Bent are very open about their challenges.

They can come to me and say, 'Today I’m overwhelmed,' and we’ll have a conversation where I help them prioritise their tasks, like saying, 'Focus on this today and don’t worry about that.'

Mai-Britt and Bent are very hardworking and conscientious. They can work at 180 km/h because they have so much drive, and they know themselves very well.

Sometimes, I have to remind them that their dedication is amazing, but also say, 'It’s great that you can work at that pace, but you can’t expect your colleagues to keep up.'

But it’s not all rosy, because their drive has both positive and negative sides. It requires ongoing dialogue and, at times, some tough conversations. For example, when we face conflicts, we must be willing to talk openly about it every time. However, we don’t see neurodiversity as a limitation in any way – quite the opposite. I believe the best results come from creating an environment that accommodates everyone.