Disability Employment Guide For Employers

Transcription

1 Disability Employment Guide For Employers CareerSource Broward is your no-cost resource for employment, training and disability services in Broward County An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.

2 Table of Contents Topic Introductory Letter from Mason Jackson, President/CEO, CareerSource Broward Page Number(s) Page 1 Myths and Facts About Hiring People with Disabilities Pages 2-3 Business Resources For Hiring Persons With Disabilities Pages 4-6 Employ Florida - Online Job Matching System Page 7 Heroes for Hire! Hire a Veteran and Take Advantage of Tax Credits Page 8 Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program Page 9 On-the-Job Training Program Making Hiring Affordable Pages Employer Services Solutions for Your Hiring Needs Pages 12-13

3 Letter from Mason Jackson CareerSource Broward (CSBD), the administrative entity of the Broward Workforce Development Board (BWDB), is a federally-funded, locally-controlled organization providing numerous services to employers and job seekers in Broward County. CSBD has provided employment and training services to the residents of Broward County for over 35 years. These services are delivered through three career centers located in north, central, and south parts of Broward County. Our staff has years of experience in helping businesses grow by assisting them to recruit qualified candidates who can immediately contribute to their bottom line. We have dedicated Success Coaches who focus solely on the employment of people with disabilities. CSBD ranks number one out of 140 Workforce Employment Networks in the nation. Helping businesses remain competitive in today s market is a major goal of CSBD. Hiring people with disabilities bring your company a wide talent pool, a competitive edge, innovative thinking, adaptable and experienced problem solvers who are valuable, loyal, and dedicated workers. It also shows social responsibility and awareness to the community. Additional services provided by CSBD include free job postings and referrals; employee recruitment; applicant pre-screening; on-site interviewing facilities; access to dollars that help train existing employees including those who have acquired a disability; labor market analysis and information; assistance writing job descriptions; access to financial incentives for hiring from specific populations; and assistance with downsizing or large layoffs. If you are an employer and you are interested in hiring people with disabilities, please contact Tony Ash at (954) or tash@careersourcebroward.com for more information. Mason Jackson President/CEO CareerSource Broward PAGE 1

4 Myths and Facts about Hiring People with Disabilities A successful business is built on facts not on myths. Myths can cause us to ignore the real opportunities that are present. All too often employers are not aware of what is myth and what is fact with respect to hiring and retaining persons with disabilities and how their company can benefit from the advantages of hiring and retaining persons with disabilities. MYTHS & FACTS I am concerned that people with disabilities do not have the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the positions I m trying to fill. According to the American Community Survey (ACS), there are 2.3 million working age adults with disabilities who have a Bachelors degree or higher; an additional 2.2 million are currently in college. Many others have vocational training and relevant prior work experience. Can I require that job applicants disclose any disabilities that they might have? A job applicant is not required to inform an employer of a disability during the hiring process. But he/ she may disclose any disability to ensure that an employer can provide appropriate job accommodations. An employer cannot use the disclosure to deny the applicant an interview or the job. If I hire a disabled person, it will be difficult to fire or discipline him/her? Although there are laws in place that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities, there are no special procedures for firing or disciplining employees with disabilities. If a performance problem does occur, follow your company s usual guidelines. I ve heard that employees with disabilities have a higher absentee rate than employees without disabilities. Employees with disabilities have lower rates of absenteeism and fewer turnovers than employees without disabilities, according to a 2008 corporate practices study conducted by Rutgers University. Better attendance records and longer tenures directly correlate to increased productivity and revenue. Does the law say how soon an employer should have accommodation in place? No, there is no rule. But the employer should not delay the process and should try to arrange accommodation within a reasonable time frame. What if our union will not let us hire persons with disabilities for safety reasons? To have a rule not to hire disabled persons for safety reasons is illegal. Also, it is illegal for unions to discriminate. Your hiring standards should be based on what is needed to do the job. PAGE 2

5 Does the ADA places a financial burden on small businesses that cannot afford to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities? No. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are not covered by the employment provisions of the ADA. Moreover, a covered employer does not have to provide a reasonable accommodation that would cause an undue hardship. Undue hardship is defined as an action requiring significant difficulty or expense when considered in light of factors such as an organization s size, financial resources and the nature and structure of its operation. ACCOMMODATION MYTHS & FACTS At what point am I required to provide accommodation? Government regulations require that the employer provides accommodation at every step of the hiring process. If you re unsure whether or not an individual requires accommodation, it is acceptable to ask. Won t accommodating workers with disabilities be extremely expensive? Almost half of all accommodations cost nothing and most cost under $600. There are numerous employer resources available including the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), which can provide information and resources on accommodating workers with disabilities. If I hire individuals with disabilities, won t my worker s compensation rates increase? Your insurance rates are based solely on the hazards associated with your company s operation and its accident experience, not on whether or not your workers have disabilities. If an employee breaks his/ her leg do I have to provide accommodation? Yes. A broken leg is a temporary disability. Is it okay to ask the employee to research options for their own accommodation and to make their own suggestions? This is actually the ideal approach. The accommodation process is a dialogue, and all the parties must agree on what is the most appropriate form of accommodation. What kind of medical proof can I ask for if an employee requests accommodation? You can ask for medical reports that say what the employee can and cannot do. You do not have a right to know what the medical diagnosis is, just what the employee can and cannot do. Source: AskEARN Employer Assistance and Resource Network - PAGE 3

6 Business Resources For Hiring Persons With Disabilities Resource Access this resource when Contact Information ADA National Network Provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional and national levels. Serves as a supportive resource, not an enforcement agency. You want the latest news and resources for business owners to facilitate ADA compliance. You need answers to frequently asked questions, practical tips for compliance, popular publications, and web-based resources. You need guidance on establishing a fully accessible and accommodating place of business for customers and place of employment for your partners, staff and vendors that meets ADA guidelines. Find your regional center by: Selecting a State or U.S. Territory from the map or drop-down menu available: ONLINE: BY PHONE: (V/TTY) ADA Business Connection Includes ADA compliance resources for businesses including videos, online training courses, and business-specific publications. You want to learn about all aspects of access that businesses need to know in order to be in compliance as both employers and as providers of public goods/services. You want technical assistance around ADA regulations for businesses, including how to modify policies and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities and how to comply with accessible design standards when constructing or altering facilities. Information and resources available: ONLINE: Toll free Phone Line to talk to an ADA specialist: Voice OR TTY U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Employers Enforces Federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. You want to learn more about federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination related to: Unfair treatment because of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information. Denial of reasonable accommodations that employee needs because of religious beliefs or disability. Retaliation because employee complained about job discrimination or assistance with job discrimination investigation or lawsuit. Information and resources available: index.cfm Disability, Discrimination Information & Resources: ability.cfm To find your regional EEO Office: Click on map or scroll down to the bottom: Employer Assistance & Resource Network (EARN) Provides free technical assistance, consultation, and training for federal agencies, private employers, and federal contractor on all aspects of the employment of persons with disabilities. Your business is seeking assistance to recuit, hire and retain qualified employees with disabilities. You are seeking linkages to state and local community-based organizations serving job seekers with disabilities. Your business is seeking training related to disability etiquette and awareness, interviewing and accommodating candidates with disabilities (may include practice interviews and facilitated discussions with job seekers with disabilities) and best practices. PAGE Information and resources available: ONLINE: BY PHONE: ask EARN) Or submit a question (all calls/inquiries are confidential; no contact information is share d with any outside entity) est To access the Business Case for Hiring People with Disabilities.

7 Job Accommodation Network (JAN) One-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including process, ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources, and ADA compliance assistance. You have questions related to interviewing, hiring and/or accommodating applicants/employees with disabilities. You need immediate information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it applies to your workplace for applicants/employees with disabilities. You need information on accommodation options/ideas for applicants/employees with disabilities. Free consultation, information & resources: ONLINE: BY PHONE: OR (TTY) Online tools: SOAR Searchable Online Accommodation Resource JAN on Demand Submit questions/concerns Employers Practical Guide to Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA - Assistive Technology The USF Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation RoboticsTechnologies and Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) provide Assistive Technology to businessesand individuals. You have questions about how Assistive Technology enables individuals with disabilities to access devices, equipment, and services so that they can perform job tasks and maintain employment. You want to explore how employers and employees with disabilities can greatly benefit from the use of assistive technology as an accommodation in the workplace. You need to know how to obtain equipment on a trial basis at no charge through FAAST. You want to contact USF Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies to learn about their free services that can help you provide an accommodation. Contact: Jeff Daniel, Rehabilitation Area Engineer jldaniel@usf.edu South Florida Business Leadership Network (SFLBLN) A network of employers who promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The SFLBLN provides education, support and networking to the business community to understand and embrace the value and abilities of all people in the workforce. You want to hear from other businesses about workplace accessibility and serving and accommodating both customers and employers who experience a disability. You want to engage in networking discussions to increase knowledge of community outreach, recruiting and interviewing, the accommodation process and barriers to employment. You want to learn how to expand your diversity recruiting efforts to include people with disabilities as a business case to recruit talent and better serve customers. Your area s USBLN Affiliate: South Florida Business Leadership Network ONLINE: Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion: ault/files/legacy/reports/disability_final _v2.pdf PAGE PAGE 514

8 Business 30-Second Training Series Innovative 30-Second Trainings are short, simple multiple choice questions on varied topics designed to educate business, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in retaining and accommodating existing employees who experience the onset of a disability. Federal Bonding The Federal Bonding Program is an incentive program that allows employers to hire with limited liability to their business job applicants with limited work history. You want to provide short and educational awareness training that provides information with a resource link for further research. You want to share valuable information and sources of support to employers in hiring qualified employees who experience a disability, including strategies and resources that can assist in effectively accommodating all employees in achieving their maximum potential and productivity level. You want to highlight the Section 503 Final Rule. You are seeking assistance with limiting your business liability related to hiring someone that lacks a work history Bonds can be issued as soon as the applicant has a job offer and a scheduled start date. Business 30-Second Trainings available: ONLINE: rces/2016/04/08/09/26/employment _and_disability_30- Second_Training_Series_for_Business Strategies for utilizing the 30-Second Trainings To introduce topics and information for the first time To send targeted information relevant to specific staff, partners, business, etc via /listserve. As a stand-alone training. To augment other more formal training o Either interspersed throughout a formal training, or o As follow-up to reinforce information discussed in formal training To lead the end-user to a reputable internet resource where they can access more comprehensive information on a 30-Second Training topic. Visit a CareerSource Broward center at one of the following locations and ask for the staff that handles Federal Bonds: North Center 4941 Coconut Creek Pkwy. Coconut Creek, FL (954) Central Center 2610 West Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL (954) South Center 7550 Davie Road Extension Hollywood, FL (954) PAGE PAGE

9 Complete set of employment tools for job seekers in Florida. Search jobs, create résumés, find education and training. One of the most exciting initiatives CareerSource Broward has undertaken recently is to bring you Employ Florida - an excellent job matching system for employers and candidates. This online tool is an excellent resource for employers to post jobs and search résumés and for individuals to post resumes and search jobs, all at no cost. Employ Florida collects jobs from hundreds of other sites to make it easier for individuals to job search in one location. Using Employ Florida, businesses can access a résumé database in their search for new employees and get timely labor market information on wages and other key employment factors. Job seekers can search openings, create résumés and find information about opportunities for training and education to improve their skills. The site currently has nearly 3 million active job seeker résumés and more than 250,656 job listings posted. It receives more than 73 million hits on average each week. There's a wealth of other information available to you on the site as well. We're confident you will find this job-matching tool user-friendly, making your recruiting or job search efforts far more productive. Check it out by clicking on "Find a Job" or "Find a Candidate." Visit employflorida.com to create your business profile and begin utilizing its features. Please contact us with any questions or if you need assistance. Our business representatives will work with you to set up your profile and access the information all at no charge to you or your business. PAGE 7

10 Heroes for Hire! Hire a Veteran and Take Advantage of Up to $9,600 in Tax Credits. Nearly one in twelve of our nation s heroes can t find a job to support their families or do not have an income that provides stability. Many are without work that provides them with the confidence and pride that is so critical to their transition home. Employer tax credits are an important part of the diverse strategies designed to help veterans gain on-the-job experience and acquire better employment. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit program offers federal tax credits to profit and non-profit companies as an incentive to Hire Our Heroes. Hire a Hero today and take advantage of the tax credits listed below: Up to $2,400 Hire a veteran who has been unemployed between four weeks and six months. Up to $2,400 Hire a veteran who has been receiving Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP). Up to $5,600 Hire an unemployed veteran who has been looking for work for over six months. Up to $9,600 Hire a veteran that has been unemployed for at least six months and with a service-connected disability. Up to $4,800 Hire an unemployed veteran who has service-connected disability. Want to apply or have application questions? Please contact the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program at (850) Want to Hire a Hero? Let CareerSource Broward Help. Call us at (954) 677-JOBS or visit us online at to find a CareerSource Broward center nearest you. PAGE 8

11 The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Solution and Hiring People with Disabilities Did you know you can reduce your Federal Tax with Tax Credits by Employing People with Disabilities? A diverse workforce is vital to business success. And people with disabilities are the largest single minority group seeking employment in today s market. This group is the only minority in which anyone could become a member of at any time. Disabilities can be hidden and often times are undisclosed in the workplace or at the time of employment. What is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit? The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. What does WOTC do? WOTC helps targeted workers move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency as they earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers, while participating employers are able to reduce their income tax liability. Work Opportunity Credit Offers federal tax credits to profit and non-profit companies as an incentive to hire people with disabilities. How Large is the Tax Credit? The maximum tax credit ranges from $2,400 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired. Interested in Hiring a Person with a Disability? Please contact our Ticket to Work Program at ttwprogram@careersourcebroward.com or (954) Please see the resources below to help your business take advantage of the tax credits available: WOTC program website: IRS WOTC information: For more information, please contact: WOTC Coordinator at (850) PAGE 9

12 On-the-Job Training We Make Hiring Affordable How On-the-Job Training Can Help Your Business Grow The On-the-Job Training Program provides an opportunity for your business to receive funds to train new employees in the skills needed to perform their job effectively. This reduces your cost and increases the value of each new employee. The On-the-Job Training Program offers financial reimbursement for the employee's wages during the training period. Is the On-the Job Training Program Right for My Business? Let a CareerSource Broward Business Services Professional visit your business location to listen to your needs and future business goals. We will then assist to recruit and refer eligible candidates. Through our partnership, a customized training plan will be developed for each selected candidate. A CareerSource Broward Business Services Professional will provide ongoing support before, during, and after the training period. Why Should My Company Participate? We allow you to review all pre-screened candidate résumés before conducting interviews and choose the candidate that is best suited for the position. Saves your business time and money with finding and retaining new employees! Assists with transitioning an individual into a new career. An opportunity to take part in building a stronger workforce in Broward County. In the past year, the On-the-Job Training program assisted hundreds of Broward County Employers placing many job seekers in positions. PAGE 10

13 Employment Solutions A title and escrow service company needed additional staff for their busy office. Working with CareerSource Broward, a training program was developed, new employees were hired and trained, and the company received an On-the-Job Training reimbursement totaling over $40,000! A high-end architectural and interior design products manufacturer had been searching for new employees for many months. CareerSource Broward Business Services Professionals selected and placed candidates within three weeks and the company received an On-the-Job Training reimbursement of $25,385! A local medical equipment assembly and distribution company had vacant positions to fill. Within a few weeks, CareerSource Broward found suitable candidates with transferrable skills. The training provided through the Onthe-Job Training Program saved the company over $39,695! Does My Company Qualify? Your company (for profit or non-profit) must be financially stable and have the intent and capability to retain the employee in long-term employment. The employee must receive the same wages and benefits as those in comparable positions. A Workers Compensation Policy is required. Training must be related to a career/ occupational goal and ranges in length of time.* The candidates cannot begin employment prior to the approval of the On-the-Job Training agreement between CareerSource Broward and the employer. *Training is linked to USDOL skills vocational preparation codes. PAGE 119

14 Employer Services Solutions For Your Hiring Needs Post Your Job At No Cost! Do you need to take advantage of online posting but can t afford the high costs of expensive job boards? Maybe you are already posting online, but you aren t receiving qualified candidates? Did you know that you can use Employ Florida to post and manage your job vacancies, search for qualified candidates, and much more all at no cost? Go to to register. Candidate Pre-screening Services Are you receiving dozens of résumés each day, having difficulties screening them all while still focusing on the day-to-day operation of your organization? We know recruiting is a timeconsuming process. We can ease this burden with candidate pre-screening. CareerSource Broward simplifies this process for you by locating qualified candidates, conducting various skills assessments based on your job criteria, and scheduling interviews. We can even provide facility space for you to conduct interviews All at no cost to your business! Recruiting in Large Numbers Whether you are hiring five or fifty employees, let CareerSource Broward save your company time and money by hosting a hiring event for you. Our three centers have accommodations to host your next hiring event. We can also assist you in hosting the event at your site. We will support the event by advertising your open positions to the thousands of job seekers currently in our database. If requested, we can pre-screen candidates and supply you with the most qualified individuals. We do all of this at no cost to you or the job seeker. Financial Incentives Your company may be eligible to receive financial incentives for hiring a returning Veteran. In addition, depending on your business location, you may qualify for further incentives. Let a CareerSource Broward Business Services Professional guide you through the process. Let CareerSource Broward provide valuable services at no cost to your business! PAGE 12

15 Working with CareerSource Broward helped us increase our applicant pool significantly. They advertised our openings, reviewed all the resumes, and pre-screened all the candidates for us at no cost. Their dedication and commitment is second to none. Helen Wainwright Director of Human Resources Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Human Resource Tools CareerSource Broward can provide your company with position titles, current salary information, and valuable labor market information. This information can help you stay competitive in the local marketplace. We can also assist you with specific Human Resource tools like writing customized job descriptions and researching occupational outlook information. reimbursements during the training period.* Ask a CareerSource Broward Business Services Professional how we can lower your costs to train new or existing employees. Our Commitment to You Our mission in the community is to ensure continued growth of your company and the economy of Broward County. We can help your business to grow with a variety of programs and services. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you will be able to maintain and expand your workforce, without impacting your bottom line. *Wage reimbursment is dependent on company size and candidate eligibility. Training Incentives CareerSource Broward offers employers financial assistance through grant funded training programs for both new hires and existing employees. You have the flexibility to design the training plan for each employee and receive wage PAGE 1315

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20 Find us at: North Center 4941 Coconut Creek Pkwy. Coconut Creek, FL TEL# (954) Central Center 2610 West Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL TEL# (954) South Center 7550 Davie Road Extension Hollywood, FL TEL# (954) An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. Rev. 11/29/2017