DENVER -- Ben Sandoval radiates positivity and brings happiness to everyone around him. For his 39th birthday, his co-workers decided it was his turn to be celebrated.
The kitchen of McDonald’s can be loud -- full of hustle, bustle and excitement. But in the dining room, there’s a sense of cool.
Sandoval is celebrating his 20th year working in the dining room at the McDonald’s on North Federal in Denver.
“I do tables and trays and I check all the bathrooms. The boys bathrooms, and no girls allowed!” said Sandoval.
Every Friday and Saturday, you can count on Ben greeting customers too.
“He brings a smile to everyone’s face. That’s what he’s so good at. I look forward to coming in every Friday to see him,” said Sandoval’s boss, Brian Boselli.
That’s why Brian wanted to plan an extra special surprise for Ben’s birthday.
Sandoval is such a part of his customer’s day, he’s the first and last person many of them see at the restaurant.
Sandoval is one of the longest-tenured employees at the particular McDonald’s location. His boss says he boosts his team’s morale and enriches the customer’s experience.
The fact that he overcomes special challenges only makes Ben more inspiring.
“Even if they’re not maybe your strongest employee in certain areas, they are in others. He can’t take orders, he can’t do the drive thru, but he is great with customers. Customer service is his specialty and he’s the best we have at it,” said Boselli.
A look at employment numbers reveal the employment rate among special needs workers is double the traditional rate.
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and right now the Colorado Department of Labor is encouraging employers to partner with their workforce centers to match jobs with potential employees.
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