Carol Cook came to Reaching E-Quality Employment Services (REES), and was initially placed in the Employment Assistance Services (EAS) program, when she felt strong enough to continue her job search following a layoff in 2022. She has over ten years of experience as a professional cleaner, in both commercial and residential cleaning, with a positive attitude and outlook. However, she faced challenges utilizing technology to create a cover letter, resume and doing online job searching including applying online. Carol also faced the reality of being a professional cleaner, her strongest skill, and determining if she could physically commit to a full-time, 40-hour work week.
After completing all the REES workshops and consulting with her Counselor in weekly face-to-face meetings, Carol’s confidence level increased to the point where she is now comfortable using technology as part of her job. This is a necessary skill set for her, as the cleaning industry now requires employees to use a smart phone to confirm start and finish times, in addition to confirmation of completion of assigned jobs.
When Carol’s Counselor confirmed that she was ready to move forward with all the employability knowledge that she gained at REES, the Counselor, through consulting with the REES Hiring Incentive Program (RHIP) Coordinator, determined that using the RHIP opportunity was most beneficial to determine if Carol was physically capable of working as a cleaner once again. The RHIP program supported Carol with setting her up on her smart phone and ensured that she had the applications necessary for the job requirement.
REES partnered with Polished Cleaning Services to hire Carol on an 80-hour RHIP to confirm that she was fully capable of returning to working life. Carol successfully completed her RHIP work experience. It was determined that while not able to work a 40 hour work week, Carol has the ability to work up to 30 hours per week. REES was able to offer Polished Cleaning Services the opportunity to take advantage of the REES Internship Project (RINT). This assisted with the necessary current criminal record check. This has led to Carol being offered a permanent position, and any further support that REES can provide for her to be successful in her new job.
Carol’s transformation from when she first came to REES, with assistance to “maybe” find a job that she can do, to the happy, smiling employed person that she is today. This is another success story for REES – supporting people with disabilities in the Winnipeg area.
