What is the Re-Employment Connection?
The Re-Employment Connection is an employment program run by WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA funded by $4 million in stimulus funds under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. The program will provide employability skills and valuable work experience for 700 adults, age 22 and up, in local jobs. Participants will have an opportunity to earn $10 an hour and work up to 40 hours a week for three months, which in turn, will have an immediate financial impact on the local economy.
How does the program work for employers?
If selected, WCF will pay the wages of the workers in the program, who may work up to 40 hours a week for 12 weeks. All interns, who will be adults ages 22 and up, will earn $10 per hour.
When does the program begin and end?
Each participant in the program will work a total of 12 weeks in one of 12 tracks that begin each month from October 2009 through September 2010.
Track 1 – October 19, 2009 – January 11, 2010
Track 2 – November 16, 2009 – February 8, 2010
Track 3 – December 14, 2009 – March 8, 2010
Track 4 – January 11, 2010 – April 5, 2010
Track 5 – February 15, 2010 – May 10, 2010
Track 6 – March 15, 2010 – June 7, 2010
Track 7 – April 12, 2010 – July 5, 2010
Track 8 – May 17, 2010 – August 9, 2010
Track 9 – June 14, 2010 – September 6, 2010
Track 10 – July 12, 2010 – October 4, 2010
Track 11 – August 16, 2010 – November 8, 2010
Track 12 – September 13, 2010 – December 6, 2010
The track that each employer is assigned to will be determined by the date that it applies for the program. The first to enroll are the first served.
*NOTE: Dates are subject to change.
How does my company qualify?
The following types of employers are eligible:
Nonprofit or government agency
Selected for-profit employers with job opportunities ONLY in healthcare, green or emerging jobs, STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) jobs. At least 50 percent of the job duties must be directly related to healthcare, STEM or green to be considered for this program.
Central Florida employers must be located in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake or Sumter Counties
What entails a “green job”?
A green job is defined by Workforce Florida inc. (WFI) as: “A green job increases the conservation and sustainability of natural resources for the benefit of Floridians. This includes jobs that reduce energy usage or lower carbon emissions and protect Florida’s natural resources. Green jobs should provide worker-friendly conditions, pay sustainable wages and offer opportunities for continued skill training and career growth.” In addition any employer with a green job or new and emerging job will be required to answer the following questions:
Business Objective
Does your company provide:
a) a service to sell, distribute or manufacture a product that reduces waste and energy consumption;
b) a primary service to reuse materials that would normally be thrown away;
c) primary services in recycling; or,
d) or produce a primary service in renewable energy at the site where the intern will perform their tasks in the program?
Participant’s Role
What task(s) will the WCF participant perform in support of green initiatives? (A role as an administrative assistant or clerical worker must actively contribute to advancing the green initiatives. Your WCF participant must be directly involved for more than 50 percent of his/her time during the work experience program in performing assigned job duties that advance the green initiatives of your company such as reducing waste and energy consumption).
Impact on Participant
What will the WCF participant learn about or be exposed to in the green industry that he/she can utilize as the participant pursues his or her long-term career after this internship with your organization? The participant should gain knowledge that that he/she can use or advance in pursuit of a career in Green if they decide to pursue this career.
Can I utilize this program to fill vacant positions due to a layoff?
No, the worksite application has a provision that requires the organization state that it will not displace any current employee to employ a Re-Employment Connection candidate. Worksite applications will be reviewed by WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA for accuracy, completeness, eligibility criteria and the appropriateness of the application and proposed positions. The review process will entail ensuring that worksites have not filed a WARN notice in the past six months prior to date of completion.
How do employers apply?
Approximately 200-300 employers will be selected. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information or to apply, visit www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com/ReEmploymentConnection.
What is the process for assigning participants to job sites?
Job matching will be based on several different criteria taking into consideration the participant’s skills, position requirements, geographic area of where the individual resides, availability of worksites and participant’s area of interest. WCF paid work experience will be designed to allow the participant to gain additional skills in a new industry or occupational area of their interest.
Will WCF conduct background checks?
WCF’s HR Department will complete a Level 1 background check on all participants. A Level 1 background check includes a county, state and national search and a Nationwide Sex Offender Register Scan. Worksites will be asked about their standard hiring practices for temporary employees to assess their threshold requirements. Based on the relationship between WCF employers and the employees, WCF cannot divulge the results of any background check with worksites.
Ultimately, an employer may ask participants about any prior arrests/convictions during the Re-Employment Connection recruitment event. Worksites can also opt to perform their own background checks; however, WCF will not be responsible for incurring these costs.
WCF will not perform drug screening and does not have the authorization to process a Level II background scan, which includes an FBI finger print search. If this is a hiring requirement, then the worksite will be responsible for processing and incurring any associated costs
Will WCF visit my company?
Before adults are placed at any organization, WCF staff will conduct a pre-inspection worksite monitoring visit to ensure that the participants will be doing meaningful work in a safe environment. Once participants are placed, a Re-Employment Connection career specialist will visit each worksite biweekly to ensure a smooth operation. These visits will be planned and unplanned to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
As an approved worksite, will I need to attend any special Re-Employment Connection meetings?
Each month WCF will sponsor a Re-Employment Connection Recruitment Event (location, TBD). The event will be by invitation only as worksites are approved and official agreements are set with WCF. The purpose of this event is to allow approved worksites to meet with candidates based on their interest in a speed interview approach. Employers will determine which candidate they are recommending for placement at their worksite based on their open/available positions.
What are the timesheet responsibilities of a worksite supervisor?
Timesheets are important to ensure that participants develop good work habits and learn responsibility. We therefore need worksite supervisors to track participants’ time accurately so WCF pays them only for the time they actually worked. Worksite supervisors are to maintain all participant timesheets in a secure location and review each timesheet daily to ensure that they are filled out completely, the participant signs in and out daily, the participant’s signature is on every signature line, and that both the participant and worksite supervisor sign the bottom of the time sheet. Worksite Supervisors will be required to fax the intern’s timesheet to WCF at (407) 708-1474 by Fridays at 7:00 pm. Re-Employment Connection career specialists will pick up original timesheets on the following Monday.
How will an incompatible job match be resolved?
If a participant is having difficulty, the worksite supervisor should first try to talk with the participant directly and candidly. If the problem continues, call the Re-Employment Connection career specialist assigned to your agency and complete a Notice of Incident form. WCF will attempt to make alternative arrangements. Please note that once the program begins, WCF cannot promise replacement candidates.
Who do I contact if I have a concern?
First contact your direct Re-Employment Connection career specialist/worksite monitor. If you are not able to reach him/her, then contact the Re-Employment Connection special projects coordinator at bwooley@wcfla.com.
What do I do in case of a non-medical emergency?
Provide counseling to the participant. Next, contact the career specialist/worksite monitor assigned to your worksite. Last, complete a Notice of Incident Report form, and forward it to the career specialist/worksite monitor assigned to your worksite. Fax the non-medical Incident Report form directly to (407) 708-1429.
What do I do in case of a medical emergency?
Call 911. Next, contact the career specialist/worksite monitor assigned to your worksite. Last, complete a Notice of Incident Report form. Fax the Incident Report form directly to (407)708-1429.
What if I have additional questions about the application process?
E-mail WorkExp@wcfla.com
What other programs does WCF offer than help my business?
WCF offers a range of professional services for businesses in Central Florida, all at no cost including:
Training Grants & Resources for Your Employees
WCF offers a variety of training award programs that may pay for up to 50 percent of your direct training cost up to $100,000.
Post Job Openings, Connect with Your Next Employee
Have a job opening? Post it with WCF and reach hundreds of thousands of job seekers across Florida at no cost to you in our online job bank. Or browse through candidate profiles today to find your next employee.
Recruit at Hiring Events
Recruit and interview at special events conducted at our offices where your positions are advertised throughout the week of your event in our offices and on our Web site, WorkforceCentralFlorida.com.
WCF Mobile Unit
This transportable HR resource was created to act as an extension of your human resources office. Reserve it today for pre-employment screening, testing or training, or utilize its private interview room for recruiting.
Lending Library
Access a variety of training and human resource materials with the Lending Library. Simply “check-out” human resources-related materials to improve your business and save on training costs.
WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA UNIVERSITY
Brush up on the latest workforce and human resource topics with these monthly one-hour seminars.
For more information, visit www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com or call the employer hotline at (407) 531-1200.
