Business & Tech
Racine County Offers Opportunity to 'Test Drive' New Employees -- For Free
Annual E3 program still needs host sites
As unemployment drops and hiring picks up, Racine County is offering a chance for employers to “test drive” young workers -- for free.
The county’s annual “E3: Employ, Enrich, Engage” program is still looking for host sites for 130 people ages 16 to 24. The young participants go through an intensive, week-long session to learn proper workplace behavior, and then spend the next five weeks working part-time at various sites around the county.
“This is really a good opportunity for employers to mold the next generation of workers,” said Mark Mundl, Racine County Workforce Development Center coordinator.
About 400 young people have applied for jobs available through E3, and every single one will get the opportunity to go through the interviewing process, since Mundl points out that it’s good experience.
During the week-long workplace success training session, which starts on June 20, participants will learn how to dress, how to show up on time, how to deal with a boss and coworkers, and how to provide appropriate customer service.
“These are critical ‘soft skills’ that employers sometimes see as deficits. We’re going to provide an initial injection of that knowledge, and then follow up every week with more training,” Mundl said,
The young employees will work 16 hours per week for five weeks at their employer’s site, while still attending additional weekly workplace success training sessions.
“We teach them how to be an effective employee. A business is not just an employee’s cash trough -- it’s not an entitlement paycheck,” Mundl said.
From a business owner’s perspective, it’s a great deal, especially if you get a “star,” Mundl said. Some businesses end up hiring their E3 worker full-time.
The young employees’ wages are entirely paid for with funding from Racine County ($50,000) and grants from United Way Racine (which kicked in $10,000), Opportunities Industrialization Center ($18,000) and the City of Racine ($31,000).
Racine County-based employers who are interested in being host sites have until May 29 to contact the Racine County Workforce Development Center. Any and all businesses are welcome to apply; so far, the pool includes non-profits, manufacturers and child care.
