Sixteen years ago, Life and Work Connections (LWC) helped Tom find a job at the University of Missouri Student Union. Through the years, Tom has enjoyed his position and grown in his responsibilities including training and preparing new staff for daily activities. He is currently working with LWC to explore other employment opportunities within the University through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program.

In his current position, Tom’s daily routine begins early as he clocks in and heads to the restaurant gates, where he unlocks the chains and opens the doors so the restaurants within the student union can begin serving students. The first part of his day involves sweeping, mopping and dry mopping in preparation for the bustling crowds of students, followed by laundry duties.
One of the more demanding aspects of Tom’s job involves maintaining the cleanliness of ten restrooms throughout the day while managing the ever-growing piles of trash that seem to accumulate in the blink of an eye. “The trash can overflow, poof!” Tom laughs as he recalls the constant pressure to stay on top of things.

Tom is also working on delegating duties to his coworkers to help manage the timing of continual tasks that quickly build throughout the day. “It just depends on who is around that can help me,” he says. His efforts to share the workload have been an important step in managing the constant demands of his job. Another challenge Tom faces is staying focused when visitors want to engage him in conversation.

“The only hard part is I’ve got to try to stay focused and not visit with some of the people when they are around,” Tom shares.

He acknowledges the temptation to chat and connect with others, but he knows that focusing on the tasks at hand is essential to getting the job done. That’s where Tom’s regular meetings with his Life and Work Connections team come in. Mary DuBach, his Community Skills Specialist, has been instrumental in helping him work through the daily hurdles of his job. Their sessions are not just about work but also about life skills, including personal finance.

“I talk to Mary first about the finances, so I’m keeping up to date and not buying anything on impulse,” Tom says.

Their conversations help him stay grounded and focused, giving him the tools to manage both his work responsibilities and his personal life. In addition to his sessions with Mary, Tom meets regularly with his Community Employment Specialist, Caelum. Caelum and Tom have been discussing Tom’s career path and whether he might want to explore new responsibilities at the University.

“We are trying to see if Tom is interested in something else,” Caelum says. “Maybe more food prep or responsibilit ies that involve less cleaning up after other people.”

While Tom is content with his current role, he recognizes that doing the same tasks every day can become monotonous. However, he is also hesitant to leave behind the benefits and the positive work environment he has cultivated over the years.

Caelum continues, “Tom is looking to see if there’s something else at the University he might be interested in so he can hold on to his benefits. He is weighing the pros and cons because he also has a pretty good schedule right now, and his current employer is very supportive.”

Making the decision to change roles isn’t easy for Tom because he has invested so much time and energy into his current position and leaving it behind means navigating a new set of unknowns. By utilizing LWC support, he is carefully considering his options before making any decisions. Tom is grateful for the support Life and Work Connections has provided him throughout the years. From his initial job placement at the University to his ongoing efforts to develop new skills and explore opportunities.