QC Work Training Crews Brewing Up Skills at Roastery
Each week, Quality Connections members Jonathan and Ben pile into a car with their Employment Services Specialist, Jade Gonzales, and head over to a coffee roastery owned by Late for the Train.
There, as members of Quality Connections’ Work Training Crews, they perform janitorial work, cleaning up bathrooms and the main lobby area of the building, which also houses a Pilates studio and a hair salon.
The roastery – which has only two employees – processes more than 50,000 pounds of coffee that are used for Late for the Train, a handful of other coffee shops, and online sales.
It’s a big job that doesn’t leave much time for janitorial work.
“We’ve grown a lot in the last two years, and to find a couple of hours a week to clean out our public spaces in the building has been hard,” said Benji Perkins, Roastery Manager. “Having them here is great – they are very low-maintenance, and they get the job done.”
The Work Training Crews are part of Quality Connections “group supported employment” or GSE program, where a team of individuals with disabilities are hired by businesses in the community to perform unskilled labor, including cleaning, yardwork, maintenance, and hanging promotional items on doors.
The teams are supervised by a member of Quality Connections, so the business doesn’t have to worry about managing the workers.
For the work team members, these jobs provide an opportunity to learn work-related skills, increasing their chances of securing long-term employment and becoming more independent.
“It helps them build their resumes, and they learn all types of skills,” said Jade. “How to communicate with co-workers; how to communicate with a boss – which in this case is me. It often is a stepping stone to other types of employment.”
This isn’t the first time Late for the Train has hired QC workers for time-consuming tasks, Benji said; prior to the pandemic, work crews helped stick labels on bags and K-cups of Late for the Train coffee. He said he sees the current partnership as a win-win for both Late for the Train and the work crew helping him out each week.
“We are really pleased with it and look forward to continuing the relationship,” he said.
Why Work Training Crews?
Running a small business or organization often means employees juggle multiple roles and endless to-do lists, with never enough hours in the day. That’s where Quality Connections Work Training Crews step in.
Our small teams of Quality Connections members can handle on-site unskilled labor tasks for you, so you can focus on what matters most – running your business.
Quality Connections charges a flat hourly rate, with QC covering all wages, insurance (including liability insurance), and benefits. An on-site supervisor – one of our Employment Services Specialists – provides supervision and ensures high quality work.
Among the services our work crews can provide:
- Light janitorial
- Yardwork
- Maintenance
- Retail work
