With the start of the new year, Waste Pro is furthering its commitment to rewarding safety-minded employees. Two helpers in Waste Pro’s Southwest Florida region are the first recipients of the $5,000 Helper Safety Performance Bonus, a three-year performance bonus program that launched in January 2016.

The first recipient of the award was Emanuel Edmondson, a helper in Waste Pro’s Bradenton/Sarasota division. Waste Pro President Sean Jennings, who previously served as Sarasota division manager, worked closely with Edmondson and saw firsthand Edmondson’s dedication to his job.

“In the nearly three years I worked with Emanuel, he was always available to work,” said Jennings in a statement. “We had to explain to him that he would not be letting us down by taking a vacation day.”

To receive the bonus, helpers must be employed full time; go three years with no unscheduled absences, customer complaints, property or vehicle damage, rule violations or driver-caused breakdown; and must maintain a clean truck.

In the Fort Myers division, helper Guins Menelus was named the second bonus recipient. A 12-year veteran of the division, he “has been a rock-steady member of our team,” said Waste Pro Division Manager Bill Jones in a statement.

In addition to the new helper bonus, Waste Pro explained it is the only private company in the United States that offers a $10,000 Safety Award to its drivers. Waste Pro has awarded more than $3.5 million to its drivers since beginning the award program in 2004.