Two Okotoks businesses, which have received awards for their community support, rely heavily on high school students as part of their work force.
However, those businesses don’t put stocking a shelf ahead of the student’s education. A student’s academic performance is so important at Okotoks Sobeys, he or she is asked to bring in a report card as part of the application process.
“We ask to see a report card because it gives an idea of what their work habits are like,” said Okotoks Sobeys owner David Gilbert.
Even after students are hired reports cards remain a priority at Sobeys.
“School comes first for all of them (the students),” Gilbert said. “If a student has a need we certainly won’t have a conflict with that.”
Work schedules at Sobeys are posted three weeks in advance for employees’ convenience.
“Once a schedule has been posted, we ask workers to find their own replacement, but if they can’t we help them out,” Gilbert said.
While Gilbert doesn’t like it, if a student suddenly is behind the night before a test or an assignment is due and needs to take the shift off, Sobeys will accommodate them.
“Yes we will, we will try to make do,” Gilbert said. “We try to hit the students a couple of times a year with a commitment form asking them what days they are available and how many hours they want to work.
“For example, with a switch from football season to Mainstage (the drama performance at Foothills Composite high school) different students are affected with their schedule.”
It’s a win-win situation. The students have some pocket money and Sobeys has a workforce.
He said Sobeys is busy on weekends and after supper when the students are available.
“The store is left in the hands of the manager and supervisor and those kids to get us through those busy times,” Gilbert said. “We schedule them quite heavily on Fridays and Saturdays.”
He said presently he has one of the best crops of students from Foothills and Holy Trinity Academy he has had in recent years.
Okotoks Shoppers Drug Mart is open until midnight for their customers’ convenience, but don’t expect to see a high school student with bags under their eyes ringing up your purchase.
“Sunday through Thursday, there would be no expectation of a high school student to work here until midnight, we can manage without bothering them,” said Bob Brown, who owns the Okotoks Shoppers with his wife, Anita. “Friday and Saturday night we will ask them to work until midnight if they are willing.”
He gives credit to Shoppers’ front store manager Diane Currie for establishing a strong relationship with students.
Employees of all ages discuss with Currie about the days and hours they are available.
“We aren’t going to jump down a student’s throat if they have to miss a shift to prep for an exam,” Brown said. “But we do ask them to give us some time so we can schedule around it.”
Pharmacists have to spend long hours in school to earn their jobs, and the Browns realize sometimes exams or extracurricular activities can suddenly spring up quicker than an emergency trip to the drugstore for Tums.
“Exams can be spontaneous sometimes,” he said. “It can be very difficult when an employee misses a shift because someone has to cover or work extra hard, however, we have enough flex time, that if there is a surprise exam, we can accommodate it.”
He said the key is a student being in communication with Currie.
Brown said student-employees are an important part of Shoppers’ history.
“Ever since we have opened, we have had a very solid presence of high school students,” he said. “We have had some great generations of high school students work here.”
Shoppers Drug Mart was the 2010 Okotoks Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Sobeys was named the Top Grocer in 2008 and 2009. The award was not given this year.
