0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

People ● 207
My dad, Marty Weisman, left Max Factor, where he ran the research
lab, when Max Factor was acquired by another company and moved its
operations to the east coast. As one of the top cosmetic chemists in the
country, my dad eventually opened Sher-Mar Corp., a boutique nail products
company. Needing help, he hired two brothers; one was a recovering
drug addict, and the other was on and off welfare. I was surprised when he
hired them, but I respected him, too.
They were so grateful for a chance to work, they turned out to be tremendously
loyal employees. Sure, they had their share of personal problems
through the years, but most days they worked really hard, mixing flammable
chemicals to make nail polish and remover and loading 55-gallon
drums on trucks.
My dad became a surrogate father to them, listening to their problems
and offering advice. By treating them with respect and expecting them
to meet high standards, he helped them get their lives back together. One
brother eventually got married and had a son.
Don’t rule out hiring people with challenges. Everyone deserves a second
chance. If you are open to hiring a disadvantaged worker, there are
a variety of state, local, and federal programs available to help business
owners hire them. Most welfare recipients are required to work in order to
qualify for state benefits. For information, visit www.opm.gov/wtw/.
GREAT
Hire Ex-Cons
While serving 10 years in prison for burglary, Roy
IDEA
Torres had plenty of time to think about his future.
“When I was doing my time, I started reading about everything going
green.”
In 2009, shortly after his release, he found a flyer advertising a “green
career” program sponsored by the Osborne Association in the South Bronx.
“I made the call, took the placement test, and did well,” said Torres,
who worked as an electrician before he admits falling in “with the wrong
crowd.”