Michael – A Breath of Fresh Air
Emerge client Michael Wills was hired by owners Sarah and Matt shortly after they bought and rebranded Floyds two years ago. The Island Bay café has become very popular with the Island Bay community. All its delicious counter food, baking and meals are cooked on site.
Sarah describes Michael as “a breath of fresh air, always cheerful, upbeat, and with a nice thing to say about his day. He gets on brilliantly with the staff.” His job primarily is dishwashing but can include some food preparation – “the odd potato” – clearing tables and cleaning. The end of day clean-up is his responsibility and Sarah says this takes the pressure off the rest of the staff.
Michael has only positive things to say about his job. “I love it, I love what I do, the staff, everything. It keeps me going, keeps my mind busy.” He is very aware of the importance of hygiene and grooming on the job. “I make sure my hair is tidy, I shave and I’m clean before I start. That’s what everyone does.” And at the end of each shift “I make sure before I finish that I clean everything up.” Michael lives in Island Bay. “Floyds is nice and handy because I am just down the road.”
Before Floyds Michael worked at Kai and then The Tugboat, both of which made him redundant when they closed. But he acknowledges the training and experience he got at the time meant he knew what he had to do when he began at Floyds. As well as his job, Michael spends a couple of days a week at Whai Kahurangi, studying computer, reading and writing.
Michael at work at Floyds
