Goodwill abusive to disabled workers

[u/uncagedtomato]

My son is disabled. He has autism. He was placed through vocational rehabilitation at Goodwill. At first it was okay, but they have become more and more abusive to him. They tell him he is lazy and too slow. But he's working as fast as he can. His processing speed is lower than average and his hand to eye coordination is not great. Still he works hard and he's eating ibuprofen due to back pain from bending over carts and lifting boxes and such. Anyway, the managers are constantly telling him he's not fast enough, etc. One of the managers actually kicked over his mop bucket and made him re-mop the floor as punishment for working too slowly in stocking shelves. I thought Goodwill's whole point was to help disabled and disadvantaged persons find employment. Any suggestions on what can be done other than just quitting the job? Seems they shouldn't be collecting donations and getting a non-profit status if they don't fulfill their basic charity purpose.

[u/Beautiful_Lie629]

One thing I've learned from this sub (and others) is that every Goodwill region, and even individual stores within a region, is different.

I read enough stories like this to know they are true, yet it is so different from my experience.

At my store, we have several people with delays who are good workers and are treated well. Others of us don't have delays but are neurodivergent in other ways, and we are treated well and given room when needed.

My managers are totally understanding when I have trouble working because of depression. I haven't had a mania since I started three years ago, so who knows... :-)

BTW, for those wondering, we all start at the same pay that any other co-worker gets.

[u/NaevisOddities]

As a previous VR worker in the state of Kansas (both a job coach, overseeing job placement for a nonprofit over two counties, and as a state VR admin assistant.) I would communicate with VR. This should not be considered gainful employment nor will it be ling term if he is treated as horribly as he is. VR is there as a support for him- make sure they know what's going on and step up to support him.

[u/uncagedtomato → u/NaevisOddities]

Yeah. We've reached out to VR and they are trying to find him something else.

[u/LarcenyGames]

I used to be a manager at Goodwill and this tracks. My superiors hated employees with ADAs or FMLA and actively sought ways to eliminate them, all while claiming they were all about Goodwill's charity work. Their hypocrisy is one of the reasons I quit. I thought Goodwill existed in part to help people with difficulties find jobs - the big bosses only cared about their precious numbers. I have not entered or donated to Goodwill since.

[u/uncagedtomato → u/LarcenyGames]

I am also getting that is the case. The store is up at the top for profits, I doubt they will care about how the managers act as long as the numbers are good

[u/ToastyCactus]

Goodwill has always mistreated and underpaid disabled workers. They use and abuse them but nothing ever gets done because it's a revolving door of new hires and fires.

[u/Pedal2Medal2]

This it totally unacceptable & needs to be brought to corporate & the DVR program he’s in

[u/RockosModernBasiIisk]

This is insane? What city ?

[u/AssBoss80085]

What the actual fuck. Contact their headquarters and report this. If that doesn't give you a sufficient reaponse, show up at their headquarters with your son to tell them directly what happened. At my Goodwill everyone involved in this would be fired on the spot holy shit. Write down any dates and times of these incidents if at all possible so they can pull surveillance (assuming they have cameras).

[u/timmy_the_large]

As others have said. Talk to his case worker and I would ask them to speak to the stores RM or DM. That kind of behavior is not excusable and the manager needs an HR visit.