AUBURN – Working for others, they got tired of hearing words like “laid-off,” “downsized” and “restructured.”

So Dave Dulac, Betsy Bricher, Nicole Seger and Katie Laprise took matters into their own hands. Literally.

The four developmentally disabled friends formed a company, Paper Pushers Plus, to offer paper-handling services to local businesses.

“We had enough of hearing that stuff,” said Dulac of the business jargon that means “you’ve lost your job.”

Members of the group have known one another since they were in school. As young adults, they continue their association through a day program administered by John F. Murphy Homes. It was there – with the help of coaches Kim Youland, Patty Rose and Michelle Roy – they decided to form their own business.

A local attorney helped them file their incorporation papers last year and since that time, the foursome has been busy contracting with local businesses. Paper Pushers Plus offers to take care of any businesses’ paper-related needs: collating, shredding, hand assembly, stuffing envelopes and other tasks.

“We take care of paper needs, from A to Z,” said Dulac.

To demonstrate, he takes a glossy brochure printed by Penmor Lithographers and carefully folds three flaps toward its center, then places the assembled brochure in a specially sized envelope. Dulac and the team did several pallets’ worth of the brochures for Penmor recently, just one of the many projects they do for the local print shop.

“Penmor keeps us busy,” said Bricher as she demonstrated the stretching exercises the team performs to keep their hands limber.

For Penmor, the relationship with Paper Pushers Plus has been “win-win.”

“They’re quite proud of what they’re doing and we are, too,” said Paul Pinette, bindery foreman at Penmor.

He said contracting with PPP gives his company more flexibility to handle the ebbs and flows of labor-intensive assembly work without having to hire or lay off permanent employees. But there are other benefits.

“It doesn’t matter how menial a task, there’s a smile on their faces and they seem happy to be here,” said Pinette of the team’s upbeat attitude.

Paper Pushers Plus bids on contracts by first performing a time study. With coaches in tow, the four owners practice whatever skills are needed for a certain job. They figure how long it would take them to complete the job, then assess an $8 per hour charge.

In addition to Penmor, they’ve handled jobs for AWAP, Sun Press, Community Concepts, the Book Burrow and other local businesses. Because they perform quality work, they’re seeing a lot of repeat business and the company is in the black, said Rose, who helps coordinate and schedule the jobs.

Although they have a lot of fun running their business, they take the work very seriously. They’re punctual, wear uniforms when they’re on the job, and disagreements are settled by consensus.

“We try to meet in the middle,” said Laprise as she shot a playful look at her three co-workers.

They also bring the same mix of fun and seriousness to their paychecks. Each has a budget plan and a goal. Dulac is saving for a cell phone, Bricher for her activities and living expenses, Laprise for the occasional lunch on the town and special groceries, and Seger for clothes and gifts for her nieces and nephews.

The payoff is more than a paycheck, though.

“I feel proud,” said Seger.

What: Paper Pushers Plus

Where: 159 Poland Road, Auburn

Contact: 782-5999