Name of Promising Practice: Employee Enhancement Program
Category: #2, Business Service
Application Contact: Mary-Alane Wiltse
Job Title: Director, Workforce Investment Office
Organization/Address:
Columbia Greene Workforce New York
Columbia Greene Community College
4400 Route 23
Hudson, New York 12534
E-Mail Address: wiltse@sunycgcc.edu
Phone: (518) 828-4181
The Workforce Investment Board, through the Skills Standards Committee has been instrumental in developing a Business-focused “Soft” Skills training program designed to assist local businesses in improving the social skills of their employees.
In November of 2002, under the Skills Gap II grant, a consultant was hired to develop a New Employee Orientation Program. The consultant was responsible for developing the entire program under the guidance of the WIB and the supervision of the Director of the Workforce Investment Office. Her tasks included: marketing this program (and all services available through the local workforce system) to the local business community; gaining business input into the topics that should be covered by the program; developing a curriculum that would address the concerns of business; and determining an acceptable schedule to offer the program so that businesses would allow employee release time.
Out of this effort the New Employee Orientation Program was developed. It consists of four separate workshops that are each three hours in length. The instructional topics cover: Balancing Work and Home, Employee Strategies for Creating On the Job Success, Communicating at Work, Becoming Part of a Work Team and Building and Retaining Your Customer Base With Excellent Customer Service.
Under the Skills Gap grant nine businesses sent their employees to a pilot run of the workshop series. Forty-nine employees attended, with over one-third of them attending more than one module. Both attendees and supervisors felt the program was extremely worthwhile. Based on the satisfaction feedback it was determined that the program should be operated on an ongoing basis. In addition, businesses felt that the program was not just appropriate for new employees, but that it covered material that was worthwhile for even seasoned employees.
With this business input, the WIB Skills Standards Committee developed a New Employee Credential as a method to allow new employees (hired within the last 4 months) to attend the series as a WIA Title I employed worker customized training program. Under the New Employee Credential Program the employee attends the four workshops that comprise the Employee Enhancement Program and after two additional months on the job the employee is evaluated by his/her supervisor using a WIB developed Employee Competency Evaluation. The Workforce Investment Board grants the New Employee Credential to employees that have demonstrated the required skills as documented by their supervisor’s positive evaluation.
Based on business feedback on the pilot program, the series is now offered under a new title, the Employee Enhancement Program. The new title identifies that the workshops are relevant to all employees, not just new hires. New employees, if WIA Title I eligibility requirements are met, participate in the WIB approved Employee Credential Program. Other workers can attend on a fee-for-service basis ($50.00 per session or $175.00 entire program. One time $10.00 book fee.)
The Employee Enhancement Program has provided an excellent promotional tool for the work of the WIB and Columbia Greene Workforce New York Career Center. It has also had a positive impact on WIA enrollment numbers and performance outcomes (credential rates, retention rates, employer and participant customer satisfaction rates). Workshop attendees who are sponsored by their employers are tracked through the OSOS/Swipe card system as receiving a “business initiative” service.
Developed Consultant RFP: November 2002
Consultant Interviews: December 2002
Consultant Contract Date: December 2002
Project Date: