According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed youth in July 2013 was 3.8 million, which represents 16.3% unemployment in the 16-24 year-old age group. It is more than double the current general reported unemployment figure—something that has drawn interest from many quarters.
Two opinion pieces, from Robert Ketchum, PhD and economist Robert Lerman, on Paul Solman’s The Business Desk webpage, point to the growing need to explore employer-provided skills-training like Apprenticeship and On-the-Job-Training (OJT) opportunities in more depth to address this issue.
Opinions between the two contributors differ slightly. Solman quotes Lerman as stating that: “We need trainable workers who can adapt to a changing economy, but are often faced with employers who will not bear the cost of employee training.” He believes that the responsibility resides within the government structure to at least take heed of the successes of the Apprenticeship and OJT programs from highly industrialized European nations and provide increased funding and support to companies and organizations who offer apprenticeships.
Ketchum’s tack is slightly different than that of Lerman. He believes that the onus resides with employers themselves and not on the government to prepare future workers for the workforce, stating: “why are companies convinced that government will or should solve their training needs?” He agrees that Apprenticeships are a potential solution, but his assertion is that “employers should take responsibility to develop and manage their own knowledge and skills.”
He proffers Professor Ron Jacobs’ principle of Structured On-The-Job Training (SOJT). He believes that SOJT, “a planned process of developing competence on units of work by having an experienced employee train a novice employee at the work setting or a location that closely resembles the work setting,” could provide the bridge between screen learning and OJT learning as a way to acquire requisite skills.
Opinions on “how” differ slightly; however, the tenor of both is that our youth are becoming increasingly disadvantaged when entering the workforce. Lacking the type of applicable Occupational Skills Training (OST) and/or “soft skills” development that employers can utilize, they are either hamstrung by the tertiary education price tag, lack of education (and/or job skills training), no prospects, or a combination of all of them.
Youth unemployment and underemployment is a workforce challenge on which KRA Corporation has focused its resources for many years through WIA-funded In-School and Out-of-School Youth Services Programs. From New Jersey to South Carolina, KRA’s Youth Employability and Success (YES) Programs support youth education, training, and employment through an extensive mix of services: intensive case management; group/individual career counseling and planning; short-term pre-vocational services; and formal employability and work-maturity skills training.
Workplace-readiness services include interest, math, and reading assessments; GED preparation; soft-skills development; and job application and interviewing skills. YES Programs recruit and partner with local public- and private-sector employers to develop jobs and/or specialized skills-development opportunities, including Apprenticeships, Community Work Experience, OJT, OST, and entrepreneurship training.
KRA Corporation will continue to prepare our youth job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and to supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce. (For a full line-up of Youth Services clients and programs, please go to: http://www.kra.com/services/wia-youth/)
A National Leader In Workforce Development
Monday, September 30, 2013
Fed's Boost Demand-driven Skills Training
The push for demand-driven skills training continues to make news. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the award of a further $474.5 million grant to a training program initiative that is aimed at boosting opportunities for U.S. workers, as well as bolstering the workforce’s future competitiveness.
The latest series of grants is a continuing countrywide attempt to use tertiary education facilities (community colleges and universities) to develop and expand innovative occupational skills training (OST) programs for those unemployed workers affected by foreign trade.
These programs, part of the multiyear Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, are being developed in collaboration with area employers that represent industries of growth.
This round of funding is also earmarked to expand the partnerships, incorporating work-based training aimed at blending on-the-job training (OJT) with the types of practical application of skills that particular industries seek from workers.
The notion of targeted OJT is gaining increased attention from many quarters with experts like Robert Lerman and Robert Ketchum, PhD (which KRA Corporation highlighted in a recent post) insisting that OJT programs and apprenticeships should be more deeply explored by both government and employers alike in developing pertinent job skills.
The “ladder of opportunity” has been a recurring theme used by DOL’s Secretary, Tom Perez. While speaking about the grants to the Front Range Community College in Westminster, CO, he again stressed the importance of skills and training in helping to stimulate the economy.
He states: “Helping people acquire new skills and access new training programs allows them to climb ladders of opportunity to secure a foothold in the middle class. Building human capital in this way is one key way to accelerate the recovery and unleash the economy's full potential.”
Penny Pritzker, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, furthered the sentiment by insisting that workforce competitiveness will come from updated requisite skills, but that employer partnerships are an important part of program development success.
Secretary Pritzker stated: "For America's workforce to be competitive in the 21st century, our workers must possess the skills employers need for their businesses to succeed. That is why employers should partner with educational institutions and government to help develop curriculum and credentialing programs at the local level."
KRA Corporation is an active provider of demand-driven OJT and OST programs that meet specific employer- and labor-market needs, allowing our business customers to hire and train individuals, thus creating qualified workers for their own businesses and others in the community. A few examples include:
KRA Corporation remains steadfastly in favor of legislative, policy, and program creation that provide services targeted to the needs of our jobseeker-customers and the demands of our employer-customers, thereby enhancing jobseeker skills and widening employer access to a qualified, competitive labor pool.
The latest series of grants is a continuing countrywide attempt to use tertiary education facilities (community colleges and universities) to develop and expand innovative occupational skills training (OST) programs for those unemployed workers affected by foreign trade.
These programs, part of the multiyear Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, are being developed in collaboration with area employers that represent industries of growth.
This round of funding is also earmarked to expand the partnerships, incorporating work-based training aimed at blending on-the-job training (OJT) with the types of practical application of skills that particular industries seek from workers.
The notion of targeted OJT is gaining increased attention from many quarters with experts like Robert Lerman and Robert Ketchum, PhD (which KRA Corporation highlighted in a recent post) insisting that OJT programs and apprenticeships should be more deeply explored by both government and employers alike in developing pertinent job skills.
The “ladder of opportunity” has been a recurring theme used by DOL’s Secretary, Tom Perez. While speaking about the grants to the Front Range Community College in Westminster, CO, he again stressed the importance of skills and training in helping to stimulate the economy.
He states: “Helping people acquire new skills and access new training programs allows them to climb ladders of opportunity to secure a foothold in the middle class. Building human capital in this way is one key way to accelerate the recovery and unleash the economy's full potential.”
Penny Pritzker, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, furthered the sentiment by insisting that workforce competitiveness will come from updated requisite skills, but that employer partnerships are an important part of program development success.
Secretary Pritzker stated: "For America's workforce to be competitive in the 21st century, our workers must possess the skills employers need for their businesses to succeed. That is why employers should partner with educational institutions and government to help develop curriculum and credentialing programs at the local level."
KRA Corporation is an active provider of demand-driven OJT and OST programs that meet specific employer- and labor-market needs, allowing our business customers to hire and train individuals, thus creating qualified workers for their own businesses and others in the community. A few examples include:
- The multi-site San Diego Metro Region One-Stop Career Center Program, funded through WIA, provides regional employers that have specific workforce requirements a full range of OJT and OST options.
- The TANF Employment Program in Washington, DC, provides OST for customers in need of intensive job-readiness preparation to meet local labor-market demands.
- The Waccamaw Region, SC, One-Stop Program, funded through WIA, adheres to a sector-driven strategy, targeting service businesses in high-growth industries, and tailoring OJT and OST services to the needs of employers in the Region.
- The TANF-funded Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare Program, for which KRA is routinely recognized for its positive Work Participation Rate by FEP, the State’s Full Employment Program, is a customized OST operation under which employers define their workforce needs and KRA provides qualified candidates to participate in OJTs to meet those needs.
KRA Corporation remains steadfastly in favor of legislative, policy, and program creation that provide services targeted to the needs of our jobseeker-customers and the demands of our employer-customers, thereby enhancing jobseeker skills and widening employer access to a qualified, competitive labor pool.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Joint Effort by Labor and Commerce for Skill Development Necessary
The need to improve and strengthen effective job-skills training to help U.S. workers be more competitive has been a hot topic for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) of late.
A recent post in the Work in Progress (co-authored by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker) discussed a joint office visit to the Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) campus to hear from key employer and training stakeholders about “the importance of skills training as both a workforce development and an economic development imperative.”
AACC has helped to coordinate efforts of numerous workforce entities to develop certificate programs aimed at arming workers with the training they will need to enter region-specific high-volume job openings.
These continued efforts on behalf of the workforce are an endeavor that KRA Corporation applauds. AACC’s initiatives in helping to further the scope of workforce development and creating opportunities to aid workers in entering into the workforce with the requisite skill set, is vital to future successes.
The burgeoning need to adopt new ideas and to look at potential alternatives to solving workforce issues is something that KRA Corporation recently highlighted in a post. It explores the opinions of two different viewpoints regarding the necessity for increased efforts by government and/or employers to start providing the type of training that will better allow employees to succeed while ensuring their companies’ successes.
The co-authored article mirrors this call to action, positing that greater involvement by business and industry is needed. It argues that employers should begin to bear the burden of skills development, too, stating: “Because a skilled workforce directly impacts our ability to keep the economy growing and businesses strong, we need employers to be actively involved in skills development.”
The article calls for increased collaboration in skill development to speed up the ability to adapt to changing needs—a factor that suits both the employer’s and the employee’s better purposes—and increases the chance for each party’s future success. Indeed, the article talked about the growing need for cooperation and joint initiatives between different federal departments to ensure that “every American has the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.”
KRA Corporation appreciates the foresight shown by the Laor and Commerce Departments in recognizing the need for skill development and their willingness to utilize resources to keep development progressing into the future as well as aiding workers to be competitive in a changing workforce environment.
With more than 30 years' experience in developing and implementing programs and initiatives, KRA Corporation understands the breadth and scale of the work and effort that goes into creating new opportunities. It is why we appreciate both the energy and the importance of these programs. We hope for the successful implementation of these strategies and look forward to them improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live.
A recent post in the Work in Progress (co-authored by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker) discussed a joint office visit to the Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) campus to hear from key employer and training stakeholders about “the importance of skills training as both a workforce development and an economic development imperative.”
AACC has helped to coordinate efforts of numerous workforce entities to develop certificate programs aimed at arming workers with the training they will need to enter region-specific high-volume job openings.
These continued efforts on behalf of the workforce are an endeavor that KRA Corporation applauds. AACC’s initiatives in helping to further the scope of workforce development and creating opportunities to aid workers in entering into the workforce with the requisite skill set, is vital to future successes.
The burgeoning need to adopt new ideas and to look at potential alternatives to solving workforce issues is something that KRA Corporation recently highlighted in a post. It explores the opinions of two different viewpoints regarding the necessity for increased efforts by government and/or employers to start providing the type of training that will better allow employees to succeed while ensuring their companies’ successes.
The co-authored article mirrors this call to action, positing that greater involvement by business and industry is needed. It argues that employers should begin to bear the burden of skills development, too, stating: “Because a skilled workforce directly impacts our ability to keep the economy growing and businesses strong, we need employers to be actively involved in skills development.”
The article calls for increased collaboration in skill development to speed up the ability to adapt to changing needs—a factor that suits both the employer’s and the employee’s better purposes—and increases the chance for each party’s future success. Indeed, the article talked about the growing need for cooperation and joint initiatives between different federal departments to ensure that “every American has the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.”
KRA Corporation appreciates the foresight shown by the Laor and Commerce Departments in recognizing the need for skill development and their willingness to utilize resources to keep development progressing into the future as well as aiding workers to be competitive in a changing workforce environment.
With more than 30 years' experience in developing and implementing programs and initiatives, KRA Corporation understands the breadth and scale of the work and effort that goes into creating new opportunities. It is why we appreciate both the energy and the importance of these programs. We hope for the successful implementation of these strategies and look forward to them improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Labor Challenges on the Docket at AFL-CIO
KRA Corporation takes at look at how Labor Secretary Thomas Perez used his address at the AFL-CIO 27th Constitutional Convention in Los Angeles, CA to reiterate his position of advocating for the creation of a strong and unified workforce in his recent address while addressing some of the other issues facing his office.
During his speech, Secretary Perez expressed described the labor movement as “one of our greatest forces for middle-class economic security.” He posited that a functioning labor movement—something he believes “has come under withering attack in recent years”—has a concrete and real connection to a healthy middle class.
He also expressed the need for a “dynamic and empowered labor movement” as a vital component if the U.S.’s economy is to “grow from the middle.”
The Secretary’s vantage point is one that KRA Corporation fully appreciates and his impassioned “pursuit of basic fairness and opportunity for everyone” is something we continually work towards. We have advocated for all workers’ rights and have sought means—both through policy and practice—to create a level playing field for employees, employers, and their communities.
The Secretary, who has spent his career as a workplace and earning equality advocate, also insisted that the e U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has a responsibility to build “ladders of opportunity with sturdy rungs that all people can reach.” He continued by insisting that developing and implementing of the types of competitive skills that benefit both employer and employee into the future are a necessity.
As an organization committed to improving the skills market and having worked towards providing the opportunities the Secretary speaks of to underserved and low-income populations, KRA Corporation is heartened to hear that our mission and the one Secretary Perez are in line with one another.
Another point the Secretary also reaffirmed was his view that Congress should raise the Federal minimum wage, stating: “hard-working people who put in 40 hours a week and take responsibility for themselves and their families should not live in poverty.”
KRA Corporation has highlighted this stance in a previous post and we see this as an important step toward equity in workforce development and employment to help improve the lives of individuals and strengthen communities.
Secretary Perez closed his speech by highlighting of the impending work and challenges of the DOL. Mentioning immigration reform, an equitable pay-scale for women, workplace safety, and protection of underserved communities, it is clear that he has set a high bar for his office. In facing his challenges, KRA Corporation and its dedicated team looks forward to working with the Secretary.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Self-Employment Assistance Grant Boost for Dislocated Workers Receive
KRA Corporation examines the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) recent award of a two-state Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program grants and how they stands to benefit Mississippi (through program implementation) and New York (by enhancing the existing program) respectively.
The additional funding for the SEA program was provided through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It effectively expanded to program to aid Dislocated Workers in their own job creation by allowing them to launch a small businesses while drawing a self-employed allowance in lieu of normal Unemployment Insurance.
The allowance (or the same weekly amount as the worker’s regular UI benefits) provides the buffer so that eligible program participants have the space and security to be able to get their own business off the ground thereby ensuring future full-time employment.
The grants of almost $2.5 million ($2,335, 270) are to be divided between Mississippi and New York. Mississippi will join Delaware, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island as an active SEA state, receiving $356,271 of the grant to start it up. The fund is has been earmarked to develop, implement, and administer a permanent program, identifying businesses, nonprofit and government organization partnerships.
Active SEA program state, New York, will receive the lion share of the grant to enhance its existing program to: ” improve customer service and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations by teaching participants how to complete applications, certifications, benchmark forms and surveys online.”
Helping Dislocated Workers re-enter the workforce featured frequently on the DOL’s to do list lately. A recent grant of $58 million in state infusion funds was passed to promote long-term unemployed Dislocated Workers training programs (which KRA Corporation highlighted in a recent post Getting Dislocated Workers Back to Work).
Eric M. Seleznow, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training foresees the move as being the passage for future job opportunities, too. He was quoted as saying that it would help “unemployed residents create their own jobs and eventually start hiring employees of their own,” as well as “form their own businesses while potentially boosting economic activity in the state.”
The importance of aiding Dislocated Workers is something that KRA Corporation fully appreciates. Offering critical services like trainings linking customers to job opportunities in their communities—which including both basic skills and occupational training skills—our WIA Adults/Dislocated Workers operations provide opportunities to Adult and Dislocated Workers.
The initiative taken by the DOL in trying a different tack regarding the UI program, is one that KRA Corporation applauds. These innovative attempt and others taken by individuals or groups that seek to utilize this opportunity to create their own enterprise and in doing so potentially help to generate economic growth, develop the workforce, and strengthen communities in those participating states is something we continue to support.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Self-Employment Assistance for Dislocated Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the award of a two-state grant of almost $2.5 million ($2,335, 270) to be divided between Mississippi and New York for the implementation and enhancement of Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) programs respectively.
With the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 expanding funding for the SEA program, Dislocated Workers receive a self-employed allowance, in lieu of normal Unemployment Insurance while creating their own jobs and small businesses. The benefit of the program is that the allowance (which is the same weekly amount as the worker's regular UI benefits) enables participants to turn launching their own business into a full-time job.
Mississippi, not currently enrolled in the SEA program, will receive $356,271 of the grant joining Delaware, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island as an active state. The fund is to be used in developing, implementing, and administering a permanent program in partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and government organizations.
New York, with an SEA program already in place, will receive the remainder of the grant money as an enhancement aid for the existing program, enabling the Empire state to—along with other upgrades—” improve customer service and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations by teaching participants how to complete applications, certifications, benchmark forms and surveys online.”
The DOL has been active recently in attempting to get Dislocated Workers back into the workforce. They announced a $58 million state grant infusion to promote training for long-term unemployed Dislocated Workers (which KRA Corporation highlighted in a recent post Getting Dislocated Workers Back to Work).
The move is one that Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Eric M. Seleznow, foresees being the gateway for future job creation beyond those looking to create their own jobs. He was quoted as saying that it would help “unemployed residents create their own jobs and eventually start hiring employees of their own," as well as “form their own businesses while potentially boosting economic activity in the state."
KRA Corporation understands the importance of aiding Dislocated Workers. Our WIA Adults/Dislocated Workers operations provide vital services—including training services that link customers to job opportunities in their communities, including both basic skills and occupational training skills—to Adult and Dislocated Workers.
KRA Corporation applauds the DOL’s innovative attempt at infusing new direction into the UI program, and we support any of those individuals that seek to utilize this opportunity to create their own enterprise and in doing so potentially help to generate economic growth, develop the workforce, and strengthen communities in those participating states.
With the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 expanding funding for the SEA program, Dislocated Workers receive a self-employed allowance, in lieu of normal Unemployment Insurance while creating their own jobs and small businesses. The benefit of the program is that the allowance (which is the same weekly amount as the worker's regular UI benefits) enables participants to turn launching their own business into a full-time job.
Mississippi, not currently enrolled in the SEA program, will receive $356,271 of the grant joining Delaware, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island as an active state. The fund is to be used in developing, implementing, and administering a permanent program in partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and government organizations.
New York, with an SEA program already in place, will receive the remainder of the grant money as an enhancement aid for the existing program, enabling the Empire state to—along with other upgrades—” improve customer service and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations by teaching participants how to complete applications, certifications, benchmark forms and surveys online.”
The DOL has been active recently in attempting to get Dislocated Workers back into the workforce. They announced a $58 million state grant infusion to promote training for long-term unemployed Dislocated Workers (which KRA Corporation highlighted in a recent post Getting Dislocated Workers Back to Work).
The move is one that Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Eric M. Seleznow, foresees being the gateway for future job creation beyond those looking to create their own jobs. He was quoted as saying that it would help “unemployed residents create their own jobs and eventually start hiring employees of their own," as well as “form their own businesses while potentially boosting economic activity in the state."
KRA Corporation understands the importance of aiding Dislocated Workers. Our WIA Adults/Dislocated Workers operations provide vital services—including training services that link customers to job opportunities in their communities, including both basic skills and occupational training skills—to Adult and Dislocated Workers.
KRA Corporation applauds the DOL’s innovative attempt at infusing new direction into the UI program, and we support any of those individuals that seek to utilize this opportunity to create their own enterprise and in doing so potentially help to generate economic growth, develop the workforce, and strengthen communities in those participating states.
New Job Corp Opportunities Take Hold In New Hampshire
As an organization committed to improving all sectors of the workforce, KRA Corporation is pleased to learn that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is broadening the scope of its Job Corps program and is expanding into New Hampshire.
Frederick Douglass wrote that “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” The Job Corps mission to "help young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through vocational and academic training" speaks to that sentiment through providing this low-income, at-risk group the education, skills, and confidence to succeed through application and hard work.
Through the official DOL blog, Work in Progress, Labor Secretary Tom Perez quite eloquently encapsulated the essence of Jobs Corps when he wrote: “Serving 60,000 young people a year and some 1.5 million over the life of the program, Job Corps embodies American values at their very best. It is living, breathing truth that no matter where you come from, if you work hard and apply yourself, if you are willing to learn and adapt, you can find a pathway to the middle class and capture your share of the American Dream.”
KRA Corporation has hands-on knowledge related to Job Corps operations, and is aware of the important role that work-based learning opportunities and on-the-job training play in developing workers and strengthening communites. Our organization has been on the ground, providing Job Corps staff development and training services, as well as managing Job Corps centers to provide the type of workforce development support services that afford the best opportunities to our at-risk 16-24 year olds.
While working with the Employment and Training Administration, KRA Corporation designed, developed, and delivered School-to-Work Instructor Training for selected Job Corps instructional staff. We also provided technical, logistical, and research assistance services to promote the development of promising practices for Out-of-School Youth (OSY)/School-to-Work programming to rural and urban grantees.
KRA Corporation remains committed to furthering the training and employment opportunities of young workers, and actively develops the occupational skills and employability of this segment of our workforce through several WIA Youth Services Programs, serving both In-School and OSY populations. In one of our previous posts, KRA highlighted the need for investment in youth services as it represents an alternative pathway to success for those that might not have access to the more traditional route.
Frederick Douglass wrote that “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” The Job Corps mission to "help young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through vocational and academic training" speaks to that sentiment through providing this low-income, at-risk group the education, skills, and confidence to succeed through application and hard work.
Through the official DOL blog, Work in Progress, Labor Secretary Tom Perez quite eloquently encapsulated the essence of Jobs Corps when he wrote: “Serving 60,000 young people a year and some 1.5 million over the life of the program, Job Corps embodies American values at their very best. It is living, breathing truth that no matter where you come from, if you work hard and apply yourself, if you are willing to learn and adapt, you can find a pathway to the middle class and capture your share of the American Dream.”
KRA Corporation has hands-on knowledge related to Job Corps operations, and is aware of the important role that work-based learning opportunities and on-the-job training play in developing workers and strengthening communites. Our organization has been on the ground, providing Job Corps staff development and training services, as well as managing Job Corps centers to provide the type of workforce development support services that afford the best opportunities to our at-risk 16-24 year olds.
While working with the Employment and Training Administration, KRA Corporation designed, developed, and delivered School-to-Work Instructor Training for selected Job Corps instructional staff. We also provided technical, logistical, and research assistance services to promote the development of promising practices for Out-of-School Youth (OSY)/School-to-Work programming to rural and urban grantees.
KRA Corporation remains committed to furthering the training and employment opportunities of young workers, and actively develops the occupational skills and employability of this segment of our workforce through several WIA Youth Services Programs, serving both In-School and OSY populations. In one of our previous posts, KRA highlighted the need for investment in youth services as it represents an alternative pathway to success for those that might not have access to the more traditional route.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
National Governors Association, Disabilities and the Workforce
KRA Corporation highlighted the growing debate around the issue of disabled individuals in the workforce in a previous post, and it has again been the subject of discussion at a high level this time at the 105th National Governors Association (NGA) in Milwaukee, WI.
Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker, touted the 3-day meeting as “an opportunity to share experiences and discuss critical issues facing our states” where “governors are focused on finding solutions to our most pressing challenges.” One of those “pressing challenges” was disabilities in the workforce and was highlighted through the initiative of the meeting’s Chair, Delaware Governor Jack Markell.
Looking at individuals with intellectual and other significant disabilities and the employment challenges they encounter, the initiative—A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities—“was designed to raise awareness about how the untapped talents of people with disabilities can contribute to a business’s bottom line.”
Markell, speaking on the National Governor's Association website, posited this about his initiative:
“Because government, business, the general public, individuals with disabilities and their families all stand to benefit from increased employment of people with disabilities, all have a role and shared responsibility in reaching this goal.”
Complete with A Blueprint for Governors, the Delaware governor’s initiative outlines practical and experiential-based directions for governors to adopt in advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
In Markell’s words, he believes that:
“A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities looks at ways both state government and businesses can partner to bring opportunities to individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market.”
Governor Markell said this In speaking about individuals with disabilities in the workforce: “We’re making strides on this front, but the work is far from over. I look forward to the discussions we’ll be having on this topic this weekend.”
We have had the privilege of assisting the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in numerous event management, information dissemination, and technical assistance initiatives, and KRA Corporation’s efforts on the Developmental Disabilities Program Resources Management Project culminated in the Secretary’s Outstanding Distinguished Services Award.
Governor Markell’s initiative and his assertion of “together, we can ensure that individuals with disabilities will have opportunities for a brighter future” is a position that KRA Corporation remains hopeful will garner the attention and support it is due and that the returning governors will employ some of his insights.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Department of Labor Stresses Right to Safety and Work-Life Balance
KRA Corporation looks at recent agreements between the DOL and two large corporations in separate policy compliance disputes.
Policy watchdogs are a vital component of ensuring the overall safety of U.S. workers and that get those types of protections beyond receiving a paycheck that help them return to their homes and families.
It is why KRA Corporation was heartened to see and applauds the Department of Labor (DOL) whose recent efforts regarding policy compliance settlements on behalf of the U.S. workforce came to fruition.
Two different DOL offices came to agreements with two large corporations—T.G.I. Fridays and Wal-Mart—whose practices were found in breach of separate policy compliances.
The DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently announced that the restaurant chain T.G.I. Fridays, will change its leave policy when an investigation found the popular restaurant was in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Laura Fortman, WHD’s principal deputy administrator, stated: “Workers should not have to choose between their job, and the family members who need their care.” She added: “ensuring a work-life balance is the cornerstone of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has been the law of the land for 20 years.”
Creating strong communities is at the base of our efforts to aid workforce development and the workers that make it up, so KRA Corporation understands the importance of a stable family unit and we applaud these agencies’ steps
The DOL was also instrumental in getting Walmart to agree to sign a corporate-wide settlement for a 2011 health and safety enforcement resolution. All 2,857 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores under Federal jurisdiction are affected with the settlement addressing specific safety and health conditions.
The settlement prompted Dr. David Michaels, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Assistant Secretary of Labor, to say: “We hope this sends a strong message that the law requires employers to provide safe working conditions, and OSHA will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that all employers follow the law.”
KRA Corporation trusts that these and future DOL actions regarding safety and health are something that will promote and then sustain a culture of safety in the U.S. workforce. With what both employers and employees potentially lose, the issue of worker safety cannot be overly stressed.
The DOL’s efforts are proof that it remains watchful and continues to take its mandate of providing workers opportunities while protecting them. KRA Corporation remains supportive of these efforts for as long as they work toward the U.S. workforce’s safety and financial well being.
Old Acts Updated, Help Vets and Disabled Find Employment
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made some successful strides recently in championing the employment cause of both veterans and those with disabilities…something that KRA Corporation has followed closely in recent postings… and now the DOL has managed to take its reinvigorated efforts one step further by recently announcing that the Department has finalized the updated rules regarding the improved hiring of both veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The updated rules apply to requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which accounted for the affirmative hiring practices of veterans and disabled individuals (respectively) by Federal government contractors and subcontractors.
As always, the KRA Corporation team is heartened to see that the DOL is fulfilling its mandate of protecting and promoting opportunity for America’s workers—and even more so at a civil rights level.
The improvement to VEVRAA establishes quantifiable recruitment and employment metrics for those contractors hiring veterans based on national average workforce benchmarks (8%) or the contractor's’ “best available data” while the Section 503 rule regarding disabled people introduces a hiring goal percentage (7% per job group) with specific employment actions that more actively promote workplace equality.
The move, which was the result of a lengthy and comprehensive effort on behalf of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in consultation with numerous key stakeholders, was praised by the Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez.
In his blog post on Work in Progress, he states“These new rules are a win-win. They will benefit veterans and people with disabilities, who belong in the economic mainstream of the nation but have faced unfair barriers in the job market. They will benefit employers who do business with the federal government, increasing their access to a large, diverse pool of qualified workers. And they will benefit the entire nation, as these rules help us fulfill the American promise of equal opportunity for all.”
It was interesting to note the concerns expressed in response to the Secretary’s blog post, especially as to how VEVRAA is potentially under-shared by some contractors and also that the positions made available by Federal contractors, might not reflect the aptitudes or abilities of those veterans.
KRA Corporation, however, remains confident that the DOL will stand by its assertions that all stakeholders, contractors included, will be openly treated in the process of enacting these new rules and that there will be equitable treatment across the board. We look forward to the future efforts of the DOL and we will continue to support the mission of all Federal, state, and local agencies that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live.
The updated rules apply to requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which accounted for the affirmative hiring practices of veterans and disabled individuals (respectively) by Federal government contractors and subcontractors.
As always, the KRA Corporation team is heartened to see that the DOL is fulfilling its mandate of protecting and promoting opportunity for America’s workers—and even more so at a civil rights level.
The improvement to VEVRAA establishes quantifiable recruitment and employment metrics for those contractors hiring veterans based on national average workforce benchmarks (8%) or the contractor's’ “best available data” while the Section 503 rule regarding disabled people introduces a hiring goal percentage (7% per job group) with specific employment actions that more actively promote workplace equality.
The move, which was the result of a lengthy and comprehensive effort on behalf of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in consultation with numerous key stakeholders, was praised by the Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez.
In his blog post on Work in Progress, he states“These new rules are a win-win. They will benefit veterans and people with disabilities, who belong in the economic mainstream of the nation but have faced unfair barriers in the job market. They will benefit employers who do business with the federal government, increasing their access to a large, diverse pool of qualified workers. And they will benefit the entire nation, as these rules help us fulfill the American promise of equal opportunity for all.”
It was interesting to note the concerns expressed in response to the Secretary’s blog post, especially as to how VEVRAA is potentially under-shared by some contractors and also that the positions made available by Federal contractors, might not reflect the aptitudes or abilities of those veterans.
KRA Corporation, however, remains confident that the DOL will stand by its assertions that all stakeholders, contractors included, will be openly treated in the process of enacting these new rules and that there will be equitable treatment across the board. We look forward to the future efforts of the DOL and we will continue to support the mission of all Federal, state, and local agencies that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Department of Labor Secretary Addresses Challenges at AFL-CIO
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez continued his pursuit of advocating for the creation of a strong and unified workforce in his recent address at the AFL-CIO 27th Constitutional Convention in Los Angeles, CA.
In his address, Secretary Perez expressed his belief that the labor movement “is one of our greatest forces for middle-class economic security.” He pointed to the tangible and real correlation between the health of middle class and that of a vital and functioning labor movement—something that he warns “has come under withering attack in recent years.”
He highlighted the need for a “dynamic and empowered labor movement” as an essential component if the country’s economy is to “grow from the middle.”
KRA Corporation fully appreciates the Secretary’s viewpoint, as well as his passionate “pursuit of basic fairness and opportunity for everyone.” We continue to advocate for the rights of all workers and seek ways through policy and practice to help level the opportunity playing field for employees, employers, and the communities that they call home.
Long an advocate for workplace and earning equality, the Secretary also highlighted the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in building “ladders of opportunity with sturdy rungs that all people can reach” pointing to the necessity for the development and implementation of the types of competitive skills that benefit both employer and employee into the future.
It is this skill market that KRA Corporation has spent over 30 years manning and seeking to improve, so as to provide those opportunities to underserved and low-income populations, and we are heartened to hear that our mission and the one Secretary Perez envisions are in line with one another.
The Secretary also reiterated his belief that Congress should raise the Federal minimum wage, stating “hard-working people who put in 40 hours a week and take responsibility for themselves and their families should not live in poverty.”
It is something that KRA Corporation has highlighted in past posts and feels is an important step toward the workforce development and employment equity that improves the lives of individuals and strengthens the communities in which we live.
In closing his speech, Secretary Perez spoke of the work that he feels still has to be done and the challenges that the DOL still faces. From immigration reform and workplace safety to pay-scale equity for women and protection of underserved communities his list is a long one—and it is one that KRA Corporation and its dedicated team looks forward to working with the Secretary to check off, now and into the future.
In his address, Secretary Perez expressed his belief that the labor movement “is one of our greatest forces for middle-class economic security.” He pointed to the tangible and real correlation between the health of middle class and that of a vital and functioning labor movement—something that he warns “has come under withering attack in recent years.”
He highlighted the need for a “dynamic and empowered labor movement” as an essential component if the country’s economy is to “grow from the middle.”
KRA Corporation fully appreciates the Secretary’s viewpoint, as well as his passionate “pursuit of basic fairness and opportunity for everyone.” We continue to advocate for the rights of all workers and seek ways through policy and practice to help level the opportunity playing field for employees, employers, and the communities that they call home.
Long an advocate for workplace and earning equality, the Secretary also highlighted the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in building “ladders of opportunity with sturdy rungs that all people can reach” pointing to the necessity for the development and implementation of the types of competitive skills that benefit both employer and employee into the future.
It is this skill market that KRA Corporation has spent over 30 years manning and seeking to improve, so as to provide those opportunities to underserved and low-income populations, and we are heartened to hear that our mission and the one Secretary Perez envisions are in line with one another.
The Secretary also reiterated his belief that Congress should raise the Federal minimum wage, stating “hard-working people who put in 40 hours a week and take responsibility for themselves and their families should not live in poverty.”
It is something that KRA Corporation has highlighted in past posts and feels is an important step toward the workforce development and employment equity that improves the lives of individuals and strengthens the communities in which we live.
In closing his speech, Secretary Perez spoke of the work that he feels still has to be done and the challenges that the DOL still faces. From immigration reform and workplace safety to pay-scale equity for women and protection of underserved communities his list is a long one—and it is one that KRA Corporation and its dedicated team looks forward to working with the Secretary to check off, now and into the future.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Department of Labor Secretary Hot Button Issues
KRA Corporation looks at some of the positions adopted by the new Secretary of the DOL on pressing labor topics.
Thomas Perez has spent little time dallying since his Secretary of Labor appointment, offering his thoughts on some of those issues the Department of Labor’s has on their hot To-Do list.
Perez believes that the DOL are in “opportunity business,” and using the DOL’s written platform, the official blog Work in Progress, one of his first posts explored the ups and downs experienced by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in its 23-year history. In that post he states: “it’s all about protecting, promoting and expanding opportunity”
KRA Corporation has spent over 30 years providing and promoting those same opportunities to anyone looking to enter the workforce. Our work as advocates for and supporters of those with disabilities, which helped us receive the Secretary’s Outstanding Distinguished Services Award for our work on the Developmental Disabilities Program Resource Management project has seen us work in close conjunction with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
Secretary Perez also took the opportunity the speak to the proposed raising of the Federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 per hour—another contentious issue that drawing equal amounts of praise and criticism.
In praising the administration’s move to try and promote a higher wage, he writes in a blog post titled Raising the Minimum Wage: The Right Thing To Do, the Smart Thing:
“The president’s minimum wage increase is part of his vision of an economy where opportunity is available to everyone; where we all get a fair shake; where the middle class is within reach no matter who you are or where you come from.”
This proposed increase in the Federal minimum wage represents a positive step towards equality, improving the quality of life for the workforce and our communities—something that the KRA Corporation team remains committed to, and so we look forward to the efforts by agencies and their representatives that are aimed at achieving this end.
Most recently, Secretary Perez highlighted president Obama’s “grand bargain” speech in Chattanooga, TN, pointing out the potential for workforce development it contained. In another official blog, he reinforced his position as an opportunity creator “for people willing to work hard and take responsibility.”
We are proud to be of service to the DHHS and the DOL through our ongoing programs, respectively, with TANF and WIA workforce services initiatives, and in joining secretary on his opportunity offensive to “work together on policy solutions that are both are pro-business and pro-worker” KRA Corporation looks forward to continuing to provide administrative, analytical, management, and technical services.
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