There are benefits to hiring the mentally ill // Ponderosa happy with hiring policy

Would Ponderosa Steak Houses hire the mentally ill? Speakingfor this major chain of family restaurants, I resoundingly say wewould.

In fact, the psychiatrically disabled have become some of ourbest employees.

The food-service industry, like many other businesses, is facinga serious labor shortage. Often, food-service jobs require hours oftedious repetition. Turnover can be quite high, thus increasing ourcost for finding and training good labor.

Since 1984, we have been reaping the benefits of employing thementally ill from Thresholds, Chicago's well-known psychiatricrehabilitation center.

First of all, the arrangement assists us in quickly …