March is Supported Employment Month in the province of Saskatchewan and as a result Saskatchewan Employer of Excellence Awards will be awarded to employers who have championed supported employment by integrating individuals with disabilities into the Saskatchewan workforce.
Nominees include a number of businesses in this area.
Supported Employ-ment is an approach to assisting persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and maintain integrated community based employment. A variety of support is tailored to individual requirements.
The following employers have been nominated by Partners in Employment for their demonstration of supported employment excellence:
Boston Pizza
nominated for having a long history of employing people with disabilities and showing an outstanding commitment to giving everyone an opportunity to succeed no matter what their abilities. Earl and Gerry Ann Fraser, the franchise owners of Boston Pizza, Yorkton have continually strived to make diversity a priority in their business not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes good business sense.
Chicken Chef (Langenburg)
nominated for championing supported employment for small businesses in rural Saskatchewan. Owner, Jason Miller provided the opportunity of employment and support to young adults with disabilities, leading to an increase in their work skills development, enhancing self-esteem and confidence, and creating a brighter future. These students also received their first pay cheques! These employment opportunities provided a brighter outlook for their future and their families. These young adults have been given the opportunity to work with their peers and contribute to their community, a goal shared by most in our society.
Hanson Home Hardware (Fort Qu'Appelle)
nominated for showing determination to change negative attitudes and myths surrounding hiring someone with a disability. Since 2008, Elaine Hanson and her employees at Hanson Home Hardware have provided exceptional workplace support for a young man with a disability. Their collaboration has allowed this employee to become successfully integrated into the workplace and the local community. They have paved the way for other rural employers to follow in their footsteps.
Harvest Meats
nominated for successfully adopting a corporate culture of inclusion for persons with a disability. They recognize the importance of accommodating people with disabilities and welcome workplace modifications to ensure that employees will succeed. Harvest Meats has demonstrated leadership by accommodating employees with varying abilities. They have proved to be a great example in the community of what being a supportive employer can mean to the life of a person with a disability.
Mano's Restaurant
nominated for being highly successful in creating an inclusive culture that favors all employees. George and Irene Stamatinos, owners of Manos Restaurant in Yorkton, have employed many people with disabilities over the last 10 years. Their experiences of working with people with disabilities have been extremely positive. They agree that hiring and supporting people with disabilities has been a successful endeavor for their business. They have independently sought out practical solutions offering a naturally supportive environment to help integrate people with disabilities into their workplace.
The Plum Tree
nominated for being an innovative, supportive and accommodating employer. Judie Bernatt, owner of The Plum Tree Yorkton, became a supported employment employer in 2010. She, together with her employees, showed a willingness to step into the unknown. The Plum Tree has changed the life of a young person with a disability by enabling them to become a contributing member of society.
Sherring Gold Jewellers
nominated for their constant belief and support in employing a person with a disability. They have successfully created an inclusive and supportive work environment that has allowed their employee to learn and become proficient in his trade. Bryce Sherring should be recognized especially for his efforts in the community, for the promotion of individuals with disabilities as being exceptional workers and for being an influential voice to future employers of persons with disabilities.
Wendy's
nominated for being a diverse employer who is always going above and beyond to support their employees with disabilities and maintaining a structured, friendly workplace. Owner Don Kondrat believes that fairness and the right attitude should be shown towards people with disabilities so they are treated as every other employee.
Yorkton Co-op
nominated for being a leader in our community when it comes to supported employment. They provide natural supports in the work place and accommodate people with varying abilities by utilizing employee mentors to train individuals and schedule appropriate shifts and hours to match individual needs. The Yorkton Co-op provides training and leadership opportunities to their staff in order to promote independence, confidence and self-esteem. The corporate culture is warm, friendly and supportive, which is exemplified by management and passed down to their staff.
Awards will be presented at the 1st annual Supported Employment Conference Luncheon on March 8, 2011 in Regina.
