Jeanette Weston – Cleaner
| Employee | Jeanette Weston |
|---|---|
| Job | Cleaner |
| Sector | Education and training |
| Company | Direct Training Ltd |
“A lot of people do get discouraged. There is work out there so keep trying. I found a job.”
When Jeanette Weston started working as a Cleaner at Direct Training it was her first job for eleven years – she’s glad to be back: “I enjoy work. It’s good having friends and meeting people. I see people here all the time, the students and everyone else.”
Jeanette has epilepsy and one of the main triggers that brings on a seizure is getting too hot or too cold: “In conditions similar to this I’m fine. If it goes above a certain temperature or below a certain temperature I can just go like that,” she says, snapping her fingers.
Her epilepsy doesn’t cause Jeanette any problems in doing her job however, because she takes care to regulate her own temperature by altering her clothing according to how hot or cold the room is.
Employer’s story
Direct Training is a small business which provides training in areas such as basic skills and customer care. Janet Brants, Centre Manager, had no worries about employing Jeanette as she had previously attended a training course at the centre – Janet knew she was reliable and hard working. “I thought she was an ideal candidate, so I called her up to let her know the job was going.”
Jeanette came in for an interview and was successful. The company didn’t have to make any adjustments to allow her to do the job.
Given the nature of their business, which involves training people for work, it’s a definite advantage to Direct Training to employ disabled people: “We like disabled employees to go back into class and let trainees with disabilities know that there’s a way out of the cycle of unemployment.”
As someone who spends a lot of time talking to employers and knows what they need, Janet feels strongly that many businesses are missing out on a pool of untapped potential by not employing disabled people. The company is careful to make sure its own recruitment and selection is fair so they don’t miss out – “we make sure everyone gets an equal chance.”
Message to other employers
“Employers often don't realise that they can get a lot of support. They don't know that the Disability Employment Advisor [from the local Jobcentre] is there to help them.”
Janet Brants, Centre Manager, Direct Training
Employee's story
When Jeanette developed epilepsy at the age of 39 she had a job in a kitchen – obviously it was impossible to control her temperature in that environment and she had to leave. She’s applied for many other jobs over the years and got nowhere:
“I have been to interviews where employers wouldn’t take me on. They didn’t give me the chance to say what my condition is and how I manage it.”
It’s especially frustrating for Jeanette as her wide experience should mean that many jobs are open to her – she’s worked in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and a casino. She feels employers are put off by her condition, however, and don’t see her abilities.
In particular she feels that employers lack understanding of epilepsy: “I think it’s because they don’t know what to do or how to treat you with that condition.”
New start
After her previous rejections, Jeanette’s self-esteem has been boosted by being selected for the job at Direct Training. She has always wanted to work and after her period of unemployment finds that having a job “makes a big difference. I’ve been brought up to be independent and I’m not happy just sitting at home.”
Getting back into a routine and doing her job well has raised Jeanette’s confidence. She’s looking for a second part-time job and hopes that employers will now focus on her ability to do the job rather than being worried about her epilepsy.
