Humboldt Sobey’s got some new staff on Oct. 19.
Five members of the the Humboldt and District Community Services crew “descended” on Sobeys as a work mob to say thank you to Dave Doepker and to raise awareness about the supported employment program in Humboldt.
“(Doepker) has humoured us in doing this,” says Employment Facilitator, Niamh Menz, “so our staff have come in and started working in different departments.”
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and is a national event. This is the third time the Community Services are celebrating it in Humboldt and it gives them a chance to thank the inclusive employers who are working to ensure everyone has a chance at employment, including people with physical or intellectual disabilities.
The goal of the work mob was to start the discussion with even more employers about becoming an inclusive employer.
This will help debunk the myths about supported employment, like an increase in sick days or insurance.
Menz says she wants employers to ask those questions and get those answers to see if supported employment is something feasible for their business.
“Business people who support inclusive hiring are only too happy, and they have told us this, to talk to other business owners and managers to share their experiences.”
Trying to find employment for everyone is important, says Doepker, and people are incorrect in thinking that people with disabilities cannot do the job.
“We found that if you find the person, you can find the right job for them and get that to fit.”
Speaking from Sobeys point of view, they have helped people find jobs that have had trouble in the past, now they are working on a regular basis.
“They’re feeling that sense of satisfaction that they have a job earning their own money and not having to get funds from elsewhere.”
That is an important aspect of the month that people seem to misunderstand. Everyone wants to work, says Menz, and wants to feel like they are accomplishing something in their life.
“Everybody wants that socioeconomic security. We want purpose in our lives and we want to work,” says Menz.
Dave Doepker is one of the employers who provides supported employment, says Menz.
“(Doepker) is somebody who if he sees someone who wants to work in his store and he knows they are going to do a good job and that’s where they want to be, if you look around the store, he supports so many different people.”
Doepker applaudes the staff at the Community Services, and says that they put a lot of work into not only finding employment, but finding the right kind of employment with the program.
“That’s the only way it’s going to win,” says Doepker, “because it has to win for the Community Services, the employee, and the employer or it’s not going to work.”
The Humboldt and District Community Services is taking this discussion to Facebook this month to discuss disability employment.
“We’ve been speaking to many of our local employers and have received some wonderful responses and insight into inclusive employment,” says Menz.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about supported employment is welcome to call Humboldt and District Community Services and they will tell you how wonderful it is, says Menz.
