When Renee Robinson joined the Group four years ago, no one knew the impact she would have had today. Renee is known for her ‘service before self’ mantra, and she brings that energy with her daily, as she executes with dedication and warmth to everyone she meets.
Born and raised in Port Antonio, Renee grew up observing her adoptive parents who were ministers and healthcare professionals in retail.
She recalls, “While I was attending secondary school, after dismissal, I used to spend my time in the store doing purchases, writing invoices, performing goods returns and merchandising products on the shelf to appeal to customers and boost sales.”
Outside of her early years in retail trade, Renee, who is also a proud Kiwanian, also found herself serving her community, like packing Boxing Day lunches for the Portland Police Station and feeding the elderly.
It is no wonder that while she progressed academically, promotions, merchandising and customer service were interwoven into her as a ‘side hustle’. “In fact, while attending Montego Bay Community College, I started to love retail more when I was doing promotions and merchandising. I found it fun and exciting to engage with customers when I am in trade–it was like second nature to me. Just imagine a customer coming to you for help and you can solve their problems through quality service and building a lasting relationship in the process”.
This love for promotions and merchandising led her to study for her Bachelors in Marketing. After all, she wanted to understand more about the customer’s journey, what influences them to make a purchase and to identify the gaps in the market.
Renee has built a strong foundation of knowledge in Sales and Marketing, including inventory and time management, pallet and hand jack operations, customer service, promotional strategies, and the designing of displays and planograms informed by SWOT analyses, among other skills.
As retail supervisor for ValuDrug Pharmacy in Cross Roads, Renee has certainly been guided by her wealth of experiences over the years. According to her supervisor, Althea Mitchell, Operations Coordinator at ValuDrug, “Renee is very very good at what she does. She incorporates her sales and marketing experience in her execution.”
“At the end of the day, I simply want to become a more impactful citizen in society, and I want to see Seprod become the leading conglomerate not just in Canada, the Caribbean or the Americas, but globally.” She also envisions Seprod as the number one household name in Jamaica, as the place of choice to work, with our brands making many strides, and having that competitive edge in the different industries.
Renee Robinson has been enjoying a meaningful journey with the Seprod brand and expresses deep appreciation for being part of it. Her approach has truly been one of service over self, as she carries out her daily role, serving the Cross Roads community and building positive relationships with customers.
At Seprod, we are committed to fostering a workplace that promotes equality, dignity, and respect for all employees. This Q&A helps clarify your rights and protections related to workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.
Q: What is workplace discrimination?
A: Discrimination is unfair or unequal treatment based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, age, pregnancy, and other characteristics. It may be a one-time incident or a pattern of behaviour involving abuse of authority or harassment.
Q: Does Jamaica have laws protecting employees from discrimination?
A: Yes. While Jamaica has no single anti-discrimination law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, origin, colour, religion, or political opinion. Additional protections exist through laws such as:
● Employment (Equal Pay for Men and Women) Act
● Occupational Safety and Health Act
Discrimination on grounds such as disability, HIV status, or family responsibilities may also be actionable under labour standards.
Q: What is sexual harassment?
A: As defined in the Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2021, sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct (verbal, physical, written, or visual) that causes offense, humiliation, or affects an employee’s performance or sense of safety.
Examples include:
● Physical: Unwanted touching, hugging, or kissing with sexual intent
● Verbal: Sexual jokes, inappropriate comments
● Non-verbal: Winking, licking lips, suggestive gestures
● Written/Visual: Explicit messages, images, or pornographic material
Q: What are employers required to do?
A: By law, employers must:
● Create a safe workplace free from sexual harassment and discrimination
● Issue a clear policy statement on sexual harassment
● Maintain a register of reported incidents
● Ensure job applicants are not pressured to engage in or tolerate sexual conduct to secure employment
● Ensure employees can report incidents without fear of reprisal
● Protect clients from being harassed by staff during the course of business
Q: What should I do if I experience Sexual Harassment or Discrimination at work?
A: If you are harassed or discriminated against at work:
Report it to Human Resources using Seprod’s internal complaint procedures
Seek external support if unresolved:
● Sexual Harassment Tribunal
● Bureau of Gender Affairs
● Victim Services Unit at the Ministry of Justice (for counselling)
● Police or court for legal redress
Q: What support does Seprod provide?
A: Seprod’s internal policies outline clear procedures for:
● Making a complaint
● Investigating and resolving complaints
● Ensuring confidentiality and protection from retaliation
You have the right to work in a safe, respectful environment. Seprod takes all reports seriously and remains committed to your well-being and professional dignity.
