An unconventional car wash has become a resounding success after the company’s COO spotted the untapped potential of specific workers.
An unconventional car wash has become a resounding success after the company’s founder spotted the untapped potential of specific workers.
The Rising Tide car wash in Parkland, Florida currently employs 43 workers – 35 of which are autistic. According to COO Tom D’Eri, his autistic workers are integral to the company’s success.
“We view autism as one of our key competitive advantages,” said D’Eri. “There are really important skills that people with autism have, that make them, in some cases, the best employees you could have,” he continued.
Typically, people with autism have excellent attention to detail and are good at structured tasks and following processes but there’s something else that sets them aside too.
“They have a desire to succeed,” said the car wash’s job coach, Todd Lee. “They’re loyal, they’re grateful, they want to prove themselves, they want to be given the chance and they want to be given an opportunity.”
“One young man, for example, he actually said that he couldn’t sleep at night because he was anticipating coming to work the next day – how many young people do you hear about that have that type of enthusiasm about work?” asked Lee.
In Canada, 80 per cent of adults with autism are unemployed and in America that figure rises to 90 per cent. The D’Eri family say they’re dedicated to bringing that down while empowering individuals with autism.
“We wanted to build an example, big and bold and out there, that other companies could go ahead and want to emulate," said COO Tom D'Eri.
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The Rising Tide car wash in Parkland, Florida currently employs 43 workers – 35 of which are autistic. According to COO Tom D’Eri, his autistic workers are integral to the company’s success.
“We view autism as one of our key competitive advantages,” said D’Eri. “There are really important skills that people with autism have, that make them, in some cases, the best employees you could have,” he continued.
Typically, people with autism have excellent attention to detail and are good at structured tasks and following processes but there’s something else that sets them aside too.
“They have a desire to succeed,” said the car wash’s job coach, Todd Lee. “They’re loyal, they’re grateful, they want to prove themselves, they want to be given the chance and they want to be given an opportunity.”
“One young man, for example, he actually said that he couldn’t sleep at night because he was anticipating coming to work the next day – how many young people do you hear about that have that type of enthusiasm about work?” asked Lee.
In Canada, 80 per cent of adults with autism are unemployed and in America that figure rises to 90 per cent. The D’Eri family say they’re dedicated to bringing that down while empowering individuals with autism.
“We wanted to build an example, big and bold and out there, that other companies could go ahead and want to emulate," said COO Tom D'Eri.
More like this:
Why hiring more moms is a smart move
How to get your employees to act like owners
Three little words to unlock your employees’ potential
