Each year we collaborate with hundreds of local businesses to match their workforce needs with well-trained and well-supported individuals who have the interests and skills to meet those needs. Our goal is to create positive, long-term employment partnerships that are mutually beneficial to both the employer and the employee. Our services are at no cost to employers or our clients.
Retaining a reliable workforce in the current market can be a challenge. New York State has unique, innovative services that successfully match capable and dependable employees with businesses interested in employee retention. We provide these services, benefitting both job seekers and local employers.
Work Try Out Program
NYS Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) can reimburse a business for 100% of an employee’s wages for up to 480 hours through the Work Try Out program. This offers the business the opportunity to evaluate the employee’s ability to satisfactorily perform the job. This wage reimbursement program requires the business to place trainees on the company payroll and cover the trainees with all benefits including Worker’s Compensation and Social Security.
Employment Training Program (ETP)
The ETP service is unique in regards to other employment services because for the first phase of work New York State pays the wages, Worker’s Compensation Insurance, and General Liability Statement of Self- Retention for the intern rather than the employer accepting the responsibility for these expenses.
Benefits to employers participating in the ETP service are:
Wage compensation for the first phase of work for interns provided by NY State.
Recruitment, pre-screening, and on-the-job training services at no cost to the business.
Increased employee retention resulting in a reduced turnover in entry-level positions.
Workplace analysis to ensure a strong match between employer and employee.
Ongoing pool of prescreened interns.
Reduce costs associated with conflict and litigation.
Tax credit for those who hire certain targeted low-income groups.
Increase appeal to the community by employing a diverse workforce.
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
ACCES-VR can reimburse a business for the wages paid during the training of a new employee when:
The trainee requires specific skills training and supervision.
The trainee is placed on the company’s payroll and covered with all benefits including Worker’s Compensation and Social Security. during the agreed-upon training period covering the usual company benefits.
The business agrees to retain the trainee upon completion of the training period.
The counselor and the employer will agree upon the length of the training period appropriate to the job. Upon the final retention of the trainee, the business will be eligible for all applicable tax credits.
The Developmental Disabilities Tax Credit (DDTC)
The DDTC program provides tax credits to for-profit/not-for-profit businesses/organizations that hire individuals with developmental disabilities. For-profit/not-for-profit businesses/organizations must be approved by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to participate in the program. Upon approval, NYSDOL will send the business/organization a Certificate of Eligibility for their records.
For more information contact:
Briggs Seekins
Director of Employment & Vocational Services
607-272-8990 Ext. 145 or
E-mail: briggss@aboutchallenge.org
For additional Information about Work Try Out or OJT: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/save-money
For DDTC Email New York State Department of Labor at WWDDTC@labor.ny.gov or 877.226.5724
FAQs
Why should I hire someone from Challenge?
We can think of at least six reasons!
Pre-screened candidates – A staff member works to find you the perfect match every time.
Dedicated employees – Our employer partners tell us that Challenge employees often have reduced absenteeism and turnover than other sources.
Ongoing support – We don’t stop once our people are hired. We have dedicated job coaches and other staff to ensure they are superstar employees!
Increased diversity – Having Challenge staff as part of your team shows your clients that you are committed to having a proper 21st-century workforce.
Employer Incentives – Many of our employees qualify for employer wage reimbursements or other incentives to hire.
It’s the right thing to do! – You are giving someone the opportunity to get back in the workforce and a chance at a whole new life.
How many candidates do you have?
We work with over 500 candidates per year. At any one time, we have between 50-90 people eager and ready to work!
Do all of your candidates have a disability?
No. About a third of our candidates have an economic or other barrier to employment. We have people of all skills and abilities, from dishwashers to PhD’s.
What is this job coaching about? Won’t they get in the way?
A job coach is needed only for some of our candidates. Job Coaches are trained to ensure that the individual has added support to be a great employee for you. They are used to tight quarters and trained stay out of the way of business operations. We have successfully job coached at most businesses in the greater Ithaca area.
How do I hire one of your candidates?
Simply call or email and we will work to prepare a custom list of candidates for your business and assist you with incentives.
Will I know the disability of the person I hire?
Under Federal HIPPA law, we are unable to disclose the person’s disability, but we take great care to match the person’s abilities with the job.
What if it doesn’t work out?
If the business and Challenge determine that it is not a right fit, the person can be discharged at any time. Challenge will continue to look for a better fit for the individual.