SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota knows that its employees are its most important resource, investing significantly in thousands of hours of on-the-clock training for its team members each year. Goodwill employees are provided with the tools and resources to be successful at work, to grow personally, and to achieve their life goals.
Through the Role Model Worker program, which was started in 2003, team members gain a multitude of additional skills that they can add to their resume after they graduate. These might include budgeting, conflict resolution, time management, stress and anger management, team building, motivation, leadership, ethics and self-determination.
The Role Model Worker Program addresses workforce development issues, which are crucial to work and life success. And the benefits run both ways: in 2016, 64 team members became Role Model Workers. The retention rate for Role Model Workers is 82%. The average tenure of a Role Model Work is 5.52 years and these employees are more likely to be promoted within the organization.
“This program is an excellent way to help our team members improve their soft skills and to include on their resumes so they can be considered for higher-paying jobs,” said Margie Genter, vice president of Goodwill Manasota’s mission services. “We know that companies look for candidates with this type of certificate because they need workers who have strong employability skills. The Role Model Worker certification tells employers that this person has received the training and education they need and will be a superior employee.”
The Role Model Worker program begins with each team member working with his or her GoodPartner Coach and taking a needs assessment. Through GoodwillWorks classes, Goodwill offers soft-skill developmental education with instructor-led training or an online class through Goodwill®U. The class topics address two key areas: life skills, and work and interpersonal skills.
Goodwill Manasota team member Kim Ames can attest to the value of the program. Ames is a 14-year team member at Goodwill who currently serves as a sales floor attendant at the Corporate Campus store in Bradenton. She took classes in self-determination, team building, business basics and computer basics in order to earn her Role Model Worker certification.
“I am thankful that Goodwill provides these classes during work hours to help me advance my career,” said Ames. “The Role Model Worker training has not only helped me in my day-to-day work at Goodwill, it’s also helped me outside of the workplace as well. I appreciate the investment that Goodwill has made and continues to make in me and my fellow employees.”
For more about Goodwill, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721.
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2016, Goodwill Manasota served 28,207 people, placed 755 people in jobs and assisted 240 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $92.1 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted more than 40 million pounds out of the landfill. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. Goodwill Manasota is accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota, in essence, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.