L to R: Summer Turner, Lindsay Whitaker, Ryan Mountain
Work Opportunities Unlimited is pleased to announce that Lindsay Whitaker on the Harrisburg, PA team is the 2025 recipient of the company’s annual Retained Placement award! The award is given to the Career Resource Specialist who played the most influential role in helping a client retain a paid or volunteer job that required some or all of the following: creativity, patience, excellent communication, job site modification, effective retention planning including employer coaching, successful interventions, natural supports, and the achievement of the client’s employment goals.
Shortly after joining WOU in August 2024, Lindsay took over support for an individual who worked as a bagger at a grocery store. The individual enjoyed working at the store, but she struggled to remain focused because she was bored with the tasks. Her goal was to cashier instead, despite having no previous cash handling experience. The store agreed to a trial of the cashiering role for the individual, and she began working brief periods at the register during her shift with a coworker and Lindsay by her side. Lindsay coached her through all cashiering responsibilities, created a pictorial key to help her memorize codes for produce items, and supported her in reading number totals as her peers do. At first, she was only proficient with scanning. In time, the individual became comfortable with greeting customers, typing in produce codes, weighing items, and processing credit card transactions, and eventually overcame her biggest barrier of processing cash transactions and providing accurate change to customers. Thanks to all the new skills the individual has gained, she is working longer hours and cashiering throughout the majority of her shifts, thus earning her more income, increasing her confidence, and solidifying her as an integral member of the store’s team. She takes great pride in her job and is excited to come to work every day, thanks to Lindsay’s support. Congratulations, Lindsay!
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Work Opportunities Unlimited, an ESOP Company with operations throughout the eastern United States, is a community-based employment service provider. WOU has been helping people with barriers to employment find meaningful jobs since 1982. The company serves thousands of adults and students annually. For more information, please visit www.workopportunities.net.
