ERI and Opportunity Enterprises Unite
In the state of Indiana, ERI and Opportunity Enterprises (OE) have come together to provide specialized e-scrap recycling instruction for individuals with disabilities.
Opportunity Enterprises is an organization that focuses on providing inclusivity training to employers, and vocational training for employees of all abilities.
OE recently announced that it is joining forces with ERI, a leading electronics recycling and reuse firm. Together, the two companies will be delivering 10- to 12-week long courses at ERI’s Plainfield, Ind. facility.
SecureShred, a branch of OE Enterprises, gives adults with disabilities employment through its Indiana location. This inclusive business specializes in document shredding and electronic recycling.
Training Strongly Adheres to NAID Standards
Those enrolled in the course will learn to adhere to NAID certification standards and have the opportunity of continued employment with ERI after completion.
ERI’s senior vice president of human resources, Carol DeBellis, highlighted that the candidates being trained by the organization are not obliged to stay with ERI after conclusion of the course.
The comprehensive training allows these individuals to find employment for any electronics recycler. Yet, she said optimistically, “the hope is we get to keep them.”
“ERI is excited about the project,” she stated. “We’ve talked about other programs in the past and worked with second chance individuals, but when this one came up it just seemed like such a natural fit.”
Hiring Those with Disabilities Proves to Enhance Overall Workforce Performance
OE is strongly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, and this sentiment was echoed in a statement to the press by OE’s President and CEO, Neil Samahon. He stated that, “employees of all abilities bring a unique set of skills and talents to their role.”
“It’s all about finding the right fit for each person’s strengths and creating an environment that values inclusivity,” Samahon said. Stressing the need for a diverse workplace, he noted that research has proven that organizations with a mix of abilities have an edge over competitors. These benefits encompass higher productivity, greater profits, and a larger net income.
“Hiring someone with a disability is not a philanthropic effort, but truly a way to enhance your workforce performance,” he explained. “We applaud ERI for their innovative approach to expand their workforce.”
At an Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) meeting, DeBellis, and representatives from OE, began discussing a potential collaboration. After touring both facilities, it was mutually decided that a partnership would be seriously considered.
“There’s almost no reason not to try it when we realized how much support we would get from the state of Indiana,” DeBellis stated.
Indiana to Fund Inclusivity Training
DeBellis noted that the state will fund Opportunity Enterprises (OE) for the general training, inclusivity training, and job coaching support for employees for up to two years after they are hired. Usually, this extra assistance is not necessary, he continued, but “if we have someone struggling or if we need additional support for that first class, they will help.”
According to DeBellis, the processes used by OE and ERI’s facilities are much alike. However, the size of operations and the level of automation utilized by ERI are much larger than OE’s capabilities.
“The processes, the thoughts behind it, the decision points were similar,” she commented. But the company also had to account for items which could not be sorted into existing categories at OE. For that purpose, an ‘unsortable’ pile was created.
New “Training Classroom” Approaches Launch Date
Next month, ERI will be ready to open its newly constructed training classroom. The firm has also almost completed its Americans with Disabilities Act review of the company’s job descriptions and staff handbook.
“We’re pretty close to being compliant so we’re going through swaps now to make sure we don’t have any decision points that are vague or might be confusing,” DeBellis said.
DeBellis announced that ERI would be selecting a group of 10-12 local applicants to form its initial class, with an estimated start date coming in late April or early May.
ERI’s Staff Trained in Inclusivity Practices
OE is currently providing training geared towards inclusivity for ERI. This instructional series has been attended by lead supervisors and managers who have had their questions answered on how to integrate a diverse workforce.
According to DeBellis, those who partake in the program will be held to the same level of productivity as what is expected of all employees. She stated that these trainees will be well prepared for these tasks upon completion of the program.
To ensure success for the first class of OE-trained workers, DeBellis noted that those placed in the asset management area will be provided with inclusivity training as well. She remarked that this is “the only way to make it successful.”
ERI has ambitions to spread the program across the country, according to DeBellis. She added that Arizona, Texas and California are all possible locations for the program’s expansion.
“We chose Indiana because it was right there in our laps, but we would love to do it in others,” she concluded.
ERI continues to lead the way in its efficiency, leadership, and now adds inclusivity to its long list of achievements.
