NOMAYMAMMAYYYVEMBE FFFF17, 2014

Changing Landscapes: New DOL/OFCCP Employment Regulations for Federal Contractors Requires Better Rehabilitation Partners

Presenters: Cindy Roberts

30-year-old nonprofit with a focus onemployment for people with disabilities

FOCUS Increase employment opportunity and economic self-sufficiency for working-age Americans with disabilities.

CAROL GLAZERNOD PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, STEVEN TINGUS & NOD FOUNDER ALAN REICH

MISSION Expandthe participation and contribution of the 57 million Americans with disabilities in all aspects of life.

NOD has built an array of advisory services and networking opportunities for companies that are interested in taking a leadership role in the disability cause

New regulations for federal contractors require companies to improve disability hiring

Goal: 7% of workforce

comprised of individuals with

disabilities

Measure and document progress

Analyze efforts

Requirement to track and

document efforts towards

compliance

Key Pieces of the Regulation

Employers set goals for hiring

people with disabilities and

veterans

Annual analysis of disability hiring and

utilization; development of corrective action

plans

Copyright © 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

The market challenge in disability employment

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SUPPLY DEMAND

JobCandidates

RegionalSourcing Agencies

Corporations Seeking Candidates

with Disabilities

Disconnect betweenCorporations &

Sourcing Agencies

Distinguishing quality among a highly fragmented landscape of sourcing agencies is challenging

Different cultures: forming stable long- term partnerships is challenging

Different success metrics

Gap in hiring due to number of challenges:

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“Of all the programs designed to place people with disabilities in employment that [we have] evaluated to date, Bridges demonstrated the greatest success in job placement…

“Bridges’ demand-driven approach to filling positions – starting with the company’s job openings…means that employers do not have to sacrifice performance.”

John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University

Rutgers University Evaluation

Since 2010, NOD has helped more than a dozen Fortune 1000 companies mount disability employment programs

“Bridges to Business”A proven demand-driven employmentmodel

Company Quotes/Employer Feedback

Employer #1 “I wanted to hire workers with disabilities and agreed to work with a local agency but it took too long for them to find any candidates.”

Employer #2 “I wish I had a real community partner who understood my needs and wanted to meet my objectives --- not theirs!”

Employer #3 “ It seems my company has to go looking for the partners in the community, and it is confusing. It would be nice to work with one organization that would manage this for us.”

Employer #4 “I expect more people with disabilities could secure employment if more programs worked together.”

Employer #5 “We worked with an agency but they couldn’t deliver the talent and when we expressed frustration, they said they couldn’t really help us and then we never heard from them again.”

Employer #6 “Help, where do I start? I need help navigating the system.”

Why is the Bridges to Business Model needed?

Single Point of Contact vs. a Valued Partner What it looks like…

SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT VALUED PARTNER

Driven by VR or an Employment

Services Provider.

One-sided expectations from

Supply side.

Willing to source candidates from

their caseloads only.

Services to businesses are

provided on a short term basis and

driven by funding for a particular

person with a disability.

Driven by the Business and their

needs.

Mutual understanding of roles and

expectations.

Willing to work with other

rehabilitation programs in the

community to find the talent for

businesses

Services to businesses are seen as

on-going and built on a business

relationship.

Identifying Federal Contractors

• SHRM Meetings• Economic Development• Jobs Investment Programs• Chamber of Commerce• Industrial Round Table• Virginia Employment Commission• Veterans Representatives• Various Recruiting Websites• Employer Outreach Letters

Next Steps

• Schedule a Meeting• Ask what partners the employer would like to

have involved in the initial meeting• Veterans Representatives can be:

– VEC Veterans Representatives– Wounded Warrior Representatives– Veterans Employment Transition (VET Team)

• Research the Employer’s website– Understand their mission, values & product

Meet and Greet

• Determine the Employers Needs– What can we help you with?– What types of positions are you seeking to fill?

(view job descriptions if possible) – What does their ideal candidate look like?– Will their policies allow for a job coach?– Will they allow for reasonable accommodations?

– Part-time, full-time, shift work, weekends etc.

Hershey Model• Corporate Contact • Hershey’s H.E.R.O.S Program Discussed• Point of Contact Established• Tour of Hershey plant for partners and ESOs• Consumers identified and interviewed by BDM and placement

counselor• Consumers completed FCE and simulated work assessment

provided by WWRC• Consumers interviewed by Hershey staff• Selections made• Orientation begins with employment specialist by consumers side• Natural Supports put into place

Home Depot Distribution

• Hired first DARS consumers• Attended Champions Event• Conversations with Hershey• Hired two more consumers• Disability Awareness/Etiquette training for staff

Private Hiring Events

• DARS identifies consumers (matching ability) • Lowe’s HRM meet and interview consumers

within the DARS office

Page County HubZone Hiring Event

Definition

HUBZone is a United States Small Business Administration program for small companies that operate and employ people in Historically Underutilized Business Zones

Focus of the hiring event• Helping federal contractors connect with a

qualified workforce including IWD and Veterans

Partners• Economic Development• Veterans, WIA, local high schools and colleges

Army Corp of Engineers• DARS conducted two separate trainings for staff

– Disability Awareness/Etiquette training– DARS Services to Employers– EO55– 503 Rules and Regulations

• Commander invited BDM and Placement Counselor to speak to federal contractors in the area

CVS Health

• Initial Meeting with Placement Counselor• Handed over to BDM/Communication stalled• Meeting held with DARS Placement/BDMs• WWRC/BDMs toured Regional Learning Center

• Work Experience Agreement put in action

• Corporate CVS teams with WWRC in filming video “Don’t Dis Me”

Nuggets Learned from a Partnership

• Assignment of a Project Manager to business partner is critical

• Meeting the needs of the Employer (Roles defined between DARS BDM, DBVI, ESO Managers, Veterans Reps, Schools and Workforce Agencies)

• Providers learned the needs of business (importance of background checks, FCE’s, assessments, job analysis)

• Flexibility of business as well as provider to ensure success in matching candidates to positions

• Co-workers’ productivity, morale and allegiance increases• Continuous building of pipeline• Creating a data base to communicate business relation results

As you continue on your journey to be more business driven for employment of people with disabilities…

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•It’s about businesses and their needs -- it is not about you and your needs.•Leave your perceptions behind regarding business not wanting to hire.•Create new partnerships – economic development agencies .

Think Differently

•Establish a plan and drive forward•Know what a successful business relationship looks like and don’t aim too low.•Track business relationship – build a data base! ( Retention)

Be Deliberate

•Disability employment hiring initiatives happens in a movement not a moment •Dedicate time, talent & resources similar to all other programs in the organization.

Be Dedicated

Questions?

If you have questions in the future, feel free to contact us: 804-687-9318 (Howard)greenh@nod.org

540-649-4448 (Cindy)cindy.roberts@dars.virginia.gov

518-383-4517 ext. 8012 (CVS)wiinfo@cvscaremark.com

Resources!

• www.nod.org• www.vadars.gov• http://vrworkforcestudio.com • http://virginiajobs777.com/dars/• www.fpds.gov• OFCCP website – pre-award registry