It started with a test five years ago. There were projects at Unitron in Plymouth that pulled production workers away from their most productive roles. Could a crew from Lifeworks Services, a nonprofit providing services for people with disabilities, do a quality job in the tight timeframe required?
The answer was a resounding yes. A crew of Lifeworks clients assembled 1,800 promotional pieces for the marketing department and finished the work ahead of deadline.
That was the beginning of what Unitron’s CEO and President Rodney Schutt describes as probably the proudest relationship we have. “The Lifeworks team is critical to our operation.” For 136 Lifeworks clients, Unitron has provided meaningful work and the opportunity to be part of a workforce that values their contributions.
For this strategic business partnership, Lifeworks named Unitron as Employer of the Year at its annual gala at The Depot in Minneapolis.
Since 2007, Unitron, designer and manufacturer of products for people with hearing loss, has expanded the responsibilities for the Lifeworks crew and its job coach. Today they build kits and program hearing aids, prepare marketing mailings, and handle delivery, shipping, inventory and recycling.
This is more than a story about getting work done efficiently. Schutt says the diversity Lifeworks brings makes Unitron a better company. The Lifeworks crew people are part of the company, impacting its culture. They attend company events, talk sports in the employee cafeteria, and have lunch about once a month with Schutt.
