When McDonald’s Ballina was looking for a new team member, they decided to cast the net a little wider. Rikki, the McDonald’s Ballina Manager, contacted Disability Employment Service provider EPIC Assist (EPIC) to see if they had a participant suitable for the role. EPIC thought their participant Samantha would be perfect for the job.
Samantha, who has Down syndrome, first came to EPIC to access extra support finding work. Employment Consultant Loretta supported Samantha to prepare her McDonald’s application by designing her resume, practising interview techniques, and helping upload necessary documents on the computer.
Samantha was successful in her application. She has now been working at McDonald’s Ballina for over six months.
In her role, Samantha ensures the restaurant is clean. Wiping down tables and chairs, emptying the rubbish, and cleaning the bathrooms are just some of the duties Samantha completes during her shift.
Samantha says putting rubbish in the bins is her favourite part of her job. When asked why she likes working at McDonald’s, Samantha put it simply:
“It is happy work.”
The restaurant Licensee, Scott Campbell, has been impressed with the progress Samantha has made.
“She has become more comfortable and attentive. Overall, her performance has improved a lot since she started working,” says Scott.
Scott is thankful for the ongoing support EPIC has provided since Samantha was hired.
“Support is important. Working with EPIC—their support is always there.”
Loretta calls and visits the restaurant regularly to ensure everything is running smoothly and is always there to help if either Samantha or her managers have a problem.
When asked what advice Scott would give to other employers looking to hire people with a disability he said:
“I think what you will find from hiring someone with a disability is more loyalty, more longevity, and more appreciation for the job which improves overall performance.”
If you are looking to find loyal and hardworking employees, get in contact with EPIC today.
