Gesture of Goodwill

     By Chris Jones
     View staff writer
      Henry Robinson has the ideal work relationship: He loves his job at Levitz Furniture, and his employer loves having him on staff.
      Only months ago, such a position was all but unthinkable for Robinson, who suffers from a mental illness and was previously unable to work in such a capacity within the community.
      But by completing a training program at Goodwill Industries, Robinson has become a winner in more ways than one. For his efforts at the store, Robinson was recently recognized by Goodwill as its 1998 Graduate of the Year.
      "I thought someone else would win the award," Robinson said. "But I was happy, so I said, `Thank you.' "
      Robinson, who will turn 40 on March 11, completed three months of training in a work adjustment program in October 1997.
      After graduation, Robinson entered a job development program with the not-for-profit organization. In April 1998, he was hired as an inventory control specialist in Levitz Furniture's store at 91 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.
      "He (only) does one thing for us, but what he does is so valuable," said Levitz store manager Eric Etherly. "Henry knows what he has to do each and every day, and I'd guess there's a 95 percent chance that every customer who purchases from Levitz is buying something that Henry keyed into our inventory."
      Robinson's duties primarily include scanning incoming items from an order sheet into the store's inventory computer. He said his favorite aspect of the job is the positive treatment he receives from his bosses.
      "The learning process with Henry is exceptional," Etherly said. "You've got to have patience, but once you spend the quality time with him it pays off in the long run."
      Working with Robinson has also increased the staff's employee training skills.
      "When you're dealing with someone who learns quickly, you tend to train them incorrectly because you rush things," Etherly said. "We now know how to break things down in a step-by-step manner, and that helps us to better train all of our new employees."
      Etherly, who has been at the store for the past two years, said Robinson has brought stability to a position which previously had a high turnover ratio.
      "He knows what he's doing and we don't have people coming in and out of that job anymore. He's a lifelong employee, whereas before people were leaving (the job) after a month or two."
      Work is a satisfying aspect of life for Robinson, who lives by himself and enjoys the interaction with his fellow employees. Although he has a driver's license, Robinson said he can't afford a car so he takes the bus to and from work each day. He reports for his four-hour shift five days a week.
      "The biggest thing employees like Henry bring to us is a reliable employee who comes to work daily, without exception," Etherly said. "It's a two-part benefit, because we're helping an individual make a career for themselves while we gain a dependable employee who we enjoy working with."
      Robinson, who likes to call himself "The $10,000 Man" because "that's how much my life insurance policy is worth," always has a joke for his co-workers.
      "Henry mends a lot of relationships together here in the store," Etherly said. "There is a lot of love for him among the employees because he gets people in a positive state of mind. There isn't a person in this building who can walk past Henry without him bringing a smile to their face."