TWO WA companies have swept the 1999 Prime Minister’s Employer of the Year Awards, winning the small and large business categories.
Spotlight and Jonstyle were nominated for the national award by WorkPlus Employment Services.
Jonstyle also won the small business category in the State awards for its approach to providing opportunities for people with disabilities.
The company employs fourteen staff, including seven with a disability.
Jonstyle managing director Dexter Tennant said the employment policy was the result of his vow to breakdown the workplace barriers he encountered as a person with a disability.
“My policy is to employ anyone who is reliable and wants to work,” Mr Tennant said.
“It is my experience these qualities shine through in people with disabilities and other disadvantaged members of our community.
“I have experienced workplace discrimination myself and will do all I can to break it down,” he said.
Spotlight employs people with disabilities in four of its six WA stores and follows a policy of ongoing
development to ensure they reach their full employment capacity.
Spotlight western regional manager Rod Bell said the employees looked forward to coming to work.
“It is highlighted in low levels of absenteeism and the quality of their work,” Mr Bell said.
Spotlight general manager of operations Linda Mira-Bateman said the company did not have any specific policies for the employment of people with disabilities.
“We have an open door employment attitude,” Ms Mira-Bateman said.
Spotlight has also played a key role in developing a special employment program for youth and other disadvantaged groups entitled Breaking the Cycle.
