Filling a Need

Photo Credit: Courtesy of LifeWorks

Lifeworks Services, an Eagan-based nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities live fuller lives integrated into the community, focuses much of their effort on employment, skill  building and job training. 

Lifeworks’ employment consultants get to know a business and its processes. They identify repetitive, routine tasks and create a solution, placing a Lifeworks client or crew to increase efficiency. Lifeworks’ job coaches handle training, oversight and evaluation to meet the needs of the employer. 

Success stories at businesses employing Lifeworks clients are numerous. Here are just a few examples:

• Nortech Systems in Mankato: Once highly skilled employees were pulled off complex jobs to do simple assembly work. Now a crew from Lifeworks does that work efficiently under a job coach who handles training, scheduling and quality oversight. It’s cost-effective and meets the price point. 

• Renewal by Andersen: Todd started by filling the copiers and printers with paper, filing paperwork and acting as the building’s mailman. His hard work and great attitude earned him the opportunity to drive the Zamboni and clean the plant floors. He loves the work and is a company favorite.

• Dart Transit: President Dave Oren has had a team of four men from Lifeworks for 13 years.  They keep things running behind the scenes, creating the permit books and completing special projects. The crew goes out to lunch with staff, attends company functions and has received plaques of appreciation.

• Allianz: The transfer hub process once was handled by four regions involving 45 people. Today, $3 billion dollars worth of transfer work flows through Lifeworks client Aaron, who is meticulous, loves the work and has improved this complex process. He’s one of eight Lifeworks clients in the partnership with Allianz. 

• Key Surgical: A Lifeworks crew of five bring their “A game” to work daily at Key Surgical, where they label, repackage, sort and weigh the company’s 2,600 products that make their way into surgical suites and clean rooms globally.  

• Buffalo Wild Wings in Mankato: Eugen helps with special events and parades dressed as the mascot. He works in the kitchen washing dishes, doing prep work and portioning and works out front cleaning tables. He has a great work ethic, is a positive influence on everyone and appreciates the paycheck.

• Ecolab: Joe, a Lifeworks client, is working on computerized machines in the model shop and has been given the responsibility of maintaining the parts area for the systems engineering lab. Coworkers say the labs are more productive than they were before Joe joined their team.

Fred Urch is services vice president of business development at Lifeworks. www.lifeworks.org