Meet Inclusive Canadian Employers
What is the name of your business, what sector is it in, and where is it located?
Coffee Matters is a locally owned and operated chain of coffee shops in and around St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.
How many people do you employ?
We employ 140 people across our nine locations. Five locations employ members of the Vera Perlin Society.
How long have you been in business?
Since 2007.
How long have you employed people with disabilities?
2008.
How many people with disabilities have you hired?
We currently employ five people but are aiming to hire at least two more.
Comment on your experience and the value added to your business by hiring employees with disabilities.
Working with members of the Vera Perlin Society has been truly rewarding in every sense of the word. Our employees with disabilities are some of the strongest, most dedicated workers we have and they show up every day with smiles on their faces, ready to face the challenges ahead.
Beyond their paid work, they bring a level of energy to our team that is unmatched. Being able to work alongside these caring and talented individuals makes everyone’s day a little bit better.
What would you say to an employer who has never hired people with disabilities?
What are you waiting for? Seriously, we love the members of our staff with disabilities. They’re polite, punctual, care about the job they do and always give 100%. Our goal is to employ at least one Vera Perlin Society member at each of our locations because we truly believe they enrich our teams so much with their positive presence.
What does an inclusive workplace look like for you?
Our cafes are designed to be inclusive to all, no matter your sex, religion, or ability. We’re proud to employ members of all walks of life and feel our teams are strongest when there is a great mix of people and personalities. Working with our employees who have disabilities is a treat because they bring such positive attitudes to work each and every day.
Vera Perlin Society’s mission is to provide quality service and support for all individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
