RESPECT of Florida is the central non-profit agency for the State of Florida that helps employ about 1,200 Floridians with disabilities through the production of commodities and contractual services that are sold to government entities. If you would like to learn more about us or browse our catalog, visit us at:
respectofflorida.org.
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A Message from RESPECT of Florida
The effects of Hurricane Irma were felt across the entire state of Florida. Our staff, partners, workers, and customers experienced evacuations, time off work, and for some damage to their homes and/or offices.
Many of our partners are located in central and south Florida and were without power for many days after Irma made landfall. We truly appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers.
One challenge in particular, was maintaining order and sanitary conditions at the rest areas along the evacuation corridors. Evacuees faced gas shortages, uncertainty, and crowded rest areas on the way from and back to their homes in areas that were in the path of the storm.
Many rest areas lost power and water as a result of the storm. Contractors brought in port-o-lets to give the travelers a place to stop during their drive.
Following the storm, RESPECT and our partners performed significant clean up to make the rest areas presentable again.
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Facebook is one more way RESPECT wants to connect with you. Click above to like our page.
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Spotlight on Success: Shernel Roach
After reviewing many qualified applications and wonderful candidates, the RESPECT team is excited to announce Shernel Roach as the 2017 employee of the Year for Commodities. Shernel was nominated by the amazing team at Lighthouse works! and her supervisor, Ohad Gal, describes her as a great asset to the organization who plays a big role in the success of the supply chain department.
Shernel is known for her ability to excel in everything that she does and she takes great pride in exceeding customer's expectations. Additionally, Shernel was independently responsible for creating an operating procedure for RESPECT of Florida orders which has provided guidance to the supply chain employees who work on state contracts.
Through Shernel's efforts, the quality of communication has exceeded expectations and has made the work flow process smooth and successful.
RESPECT wanted to learn a little more about this superstar, so we asked Shernel some fun questions about herself:
Favorite food?
Italian. Her favorite dish is Caprese Salad.
Favorite song?
Shernel loves all different kinds of music but right now she is really digging "Repeat" by Allan Rayman.
Hobbies?
Shernel loves to do fun activities with her two sons. She loves dancing, watching movies and playing board games with them. In addition to that she loves collecting different types of candles.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
Shernel spends most of her weekends either studying for her bachelor degree or hanging around with friends.
What makes you happy?
"I'm given the chance to focus on my ability and not my disability. People in my organization are looking at what I can accomplish rather than what I'm not capable of doing. That makes me very happy. Knowing I am able to setup a good example for my sons and provide them with the education and the support they need means the world to me."
Congratulations Shernel! You amaze us!
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Meetings, Training, and Events
- Oct. - Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Oct. 4 - Exceptional Employer Awards, Tallahassee
- Nov. 1 - Florida ARF/RESPECT Awards, Tampa
- Dec. 1 - Seagull Services Chef Event, West Palm Beach
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Commodity Line of the Month
RESPECT offers many different types of signs for indoor and outdoor use.
One popular type of outdoor signage is our sandblasted signs. These multi-dimensional, custom signs are made from foam or wood and can be used in a variety of settings to meet your sign needs.
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RESPECT Awards Micro-Enterprise Grant
RESPECT of Florida had three strong contenders for the Micro-Enterprise Grant this year. The proposals included Ybor Eddie, a hot sauce venture, The Plant Princess, a plant rental and décor service, and MasterTech, a janitorial business.
On September 18, RESPECT and its Business Development Committee evaluated the three proposals and awarded the grant to Ybor Eddie's Hot Sauce. Acting RESPECT Executive Director Suzanne Sewell announced during the evaluation meeting that RESPECT would be able to fund two grants this year. The second grant was awarded to The Plant Princess.
Edwin Rodriguez founded Ybor Eddie's Hot Sauce in 2003. He is a self-taught cook and creates his own recipes that, "compliment food, not overpower it." Eddie created the brand and labels and established a relationship with local restaurant Gaspar's Grotto to use the commercial kitchen.
Eddie has offered his hot sauce at various local pop-up markets in the Tampa Bay area and is locally known and supported by many people in the community. His sauces have won many first and second prizes at Florida's largest amateur hot sauce festival, "I Like it Hot."
With the grant money, Eddie plans on increasing the number of batches he makes. He will need to buy more ingredients, bottles, and labels. Having more inventory will allow him to grow his business and increase his sales.
Tiffany Roper has teamed up with the Arc Gateway Program for Adult Learning and Support. She has a certification in Horticulture Studies and Retail Services and has also completed an internship.
The Plant Princess provides a variety of services including: routine plant care and maintenance, indoor plantscapes, floral displays, plant setup and/or rental, and seasonal décor packages. Tiffany already has two businesses who have committed to using her services.
With the grant funds, Tiffany plans to finalize setting up her business, purchase tools and equipment, and create a marketing campaign.
The winners will be recognized at the Exceptional Employers event in Tallahassee on October 4.
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Enriching Lives, Erasing Barriers, Helping People Soar
Seagull Services in West Palm Beach is one of RESPECT's 53 partner Employment Centers. Founded in 1979, the initial goal of the founders, parents of children with disabilities, was to improve the quality of life of individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Seagull Services has an average workforce of 125 individuals and can provide an array of business services for your professional needs. Seagull is a full-scale fulfillment house and an Industrial Subcontractor. Their service area includes the Greater Palm Beach Area and Southern Marion County.
Through the RESPECT of Florida program, Seagull Services offers decorative lighting, stickers and decals, Clarity Urocheck Urinalysis tests and signs of all kind. One of the more popular signs is the coroplast sign. Coroplast signs come in many different sizes, colors, and fonts. Double sided is also available.
Other presentation options are banners, retractable banners, no curl hybrid film, standard table throws and runners, trade show signs, silk screen, dye sublimation, and much more.
Seagull Services believes that every person has the right to live a satisfying, productive life, the opportunity to fully participate in the community, live a dignified life as independently as possible, and have the support and resources necessary to pursue their dreams and fulfill their aspirations.
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Goodwill of South Florida Provides Relief
By David Landsberg, President/CEO
We and many of our South Florida neighbors are recovering from Hurricane Irma. We hope that this communication finds you and your family safe. Our hearts go out to those in our community who were most severely affected by the storm. When we face a natural disaster such as Hurricane Irma, it becomes even more evident how important it is to have normalcy, and routine. Our hope for you, and everyone in our South Florida community is that we will recover quickly, and be stronger because of what we have experienced together.
Though our offices and stores received some damages, our Goodwill participants and employees have worked hard to reopen all Goodwill Stores. Our Commercial Laundry, Apparel Manufacturing, and other programs have also come fully back online so that continuity of services would be available for our community.
We appreciate that many of our neighbors and friends will be rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Irma. This could take weeks, and in some cases months or longer. Rest assured Goodwill is doing its part to make sure that program services remain available for people with disabilities and other barriers to work, and the South Florida community at large.
Although Goodwill is not a disaster relief organization, but rather an agency that focuses on training, employment, and job placement for people with disabilities and other barriers to work, we want to do our part. We are partnering with the American Red Cross to receive and distribute donations of clothing, shoes, towels and household goods. If you would like to participate, you may donate items to any Goodwill donation center or store just like you always have. No special designations or instructions are needed when you drop off your items. Those in need will receive a voucher from the American Red Cross that they will then be able to redeem in our stores.
It is in times of crisis that we must band together for strength to get through to the other side. We know that our South Florida community is strong. Together we will make it through and be stronger on the other side.
On behalf of Goodwill of South Florida, and all of our participants, thank you for supporting our South Florida community and for supporting Goodwill!
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Human Resource Law - Myth Buster
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HR & Compliance Manager, Dayna Lenk |
Everyone knows a good myth or two. Many of those myths have been repeated so often people take them at face value and act on them as if they were true. Which is why we have put together a simple myth-busting guide to 11 common employment law questions. So, grab yourself a cup of coffee and a cookie, and enjoy these little nuggets of truth.
1. Myth: If your boss is unfair or rude, you might have legal recourse
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Fact
: It is not illegal for your boss to be unfair or rude. It is unwise, but it is not illegal. The exception to this: If your boss is being unfair to you because of your race, gender, religion, or other protected class, then you do have legal options.
2. Myth: The First Amendment protects your ability to say what you want at work
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Fact:
The First Amendment of the US Constitution prevents the government from restricting your speech, but it does not restrict a private employer. In Florida, an employer can fire you for what you say at work, or even outside of work. An exception to this is if you are organizing coworkers about pay or working conditions.
3. Myth: HR representatives must keep things confidential if you request it
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Fact
: HR professionals are not doctors or priests; you should not assume confidentiality when talking to them, and even if you ask for confidentiality, they may not be able to uphold the request. If an HR professional obtains information that they deem needs to be shared or used to investigate a situation, their job obligates them to do that. In some cases, you can talk to HR in confidence if you explicitly work out an understanding of confidentiality before you share. There are also cases where HR is required to report things (such as concerns about harassment or illegal activities), no matter how strongly the employee appeals for confidentiality.
4. Myth: An employer needs to warn you or at least give you a reason before firing you
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Fact
: Unless you have an employment contract, you are considered an at-will employee. That means that your employer can fire you at any time, without warning, for any reason or no reason at all. Your boss can fire you because she does not like your car or the color of your shirt. The only exceptions: You cannot be fired if the reason for your firing is your race, religion, sex, national origin, or membership in another legally protected class.
5. Myth: Your employer cannot require you to go to work-related events that are outside of your regular work hours
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Fact
: Whether it is a client dinner or a training class, your employer can indeed require you to attend events outside of your usual work hours. However, if you are a nonexempt employee, they must pay you at your hourly rate if your attendance is required.
6. Myth: If you disagree with a performance review or disciplinary action, you should refuse to sign it
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Fact
: Signing a performance review does not mean you agree with it; you are simply signifying that you received it. Refusing to sign has no useful purpose and will just get you labeled as oppositional and insubordinate.
7. Myth: You cannot talk about salary in the workplace.
Fact: This taboo topic is still in a few handbooks across the nation and spoken about in hushed tones. But shutting down conversations about working conditions, which include compensation, is illegal, per the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
8. Myth: Employees are entitled by law to take rest periods and lunch breaks.
Fact: Neither the State of Florida or Federal law addresses meal or rest breaks, and fewer than half of the 50 states mandate meal and/or rest breaks for employees who are over 18 years of age. That being said, most employers do provide breaks for employees based upon custom and necessity. If the organization offers a break they must follow the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which states that breaks of less than 20 minutes must be paid, and during longer breaks that may be unpaid the employee cannot perform any work; otherwise, that "break" time must be paid time.
9. Myth: You cannot be forced to work overtime.
Fact: First, your employer can require you to work overtime. There is nothing illegal about setting a schedule where you must work more than 40 hours. Unless you are protected by child labor laws or are in a position that regulates shifts for safety reasons (such as pilots or truck drivers), employers can require an employee to work 12 hours a day 7 days a week. Having said that and understanding human nature and employee retention, this is probably not a good idea. The point is that there are no federal or state of Florida laws that limit the number of hours an employer can require a person to work.
10. Myth: Overtime hours must be preauthorized to qualify for overtime pay.
Fact: Overtime hours worked do not have to be preapproved by an employer to qualify for pay. For example, a nonexempt employee who decides last-minute they need to work an extra two hours to finish their job duties still qualifies for time-and-a-half pay for those additional two hours, even though they did not first notify and get approval from their supervisor. Overtime pay must be paid regardless of the circumstances that caused the employee to work beyond their 40 hours. Even unauthorized work must be compensated at one and a half times normal hourly wage for each of those extra hours performed.
11. Myth: You can receive compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay.
Fact: Many workers are confused about this myth. The truth is, public sector employees can receive compensatory time off, often known as "comp time," in exchange for overtime pay if the employee worked more than 40 hours in one workweek. In the private sector, this is not an option. If you work in the private sector, all overtime must be paid and one and a half the rate of pay and even if your employees wants to have time off instead of overtime pay, it is illegal.
The information contained in this article is intended to provide useful information on the topic covered, but should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion.
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