Services for Employers

Community INC would like to assist employers to be more inclusive and equitable in both their hiring practices and workplace/culture.  Employers are overlooking the largest untapped labour pool, when persons with disabilities are not given an equal opportunity to employment. Often  employers see persons with disabilities for what they can’t do, not what skills they have, how much money/ time it will take, rather than ask the person what they needed, or that it will be a workers comp accident waiting to happen. They sometimes look at hiring a person with a disability as an added cost.

There are many myths that exist within the business world about hiring persons with disabilities, but Mark Wafer, a hearing impaired Tim Horton’s franchises owner has hired over 82 persons with disability and has the business case that can illustrate how hiring persons with disabilities can be good for business, as they make good employees. its just good for business! Check out this video to hear more.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/The+National/ID/2439669551/

Community INC can work with employers to fill vacancies, when we are given information about job descriptions and requirements, and we take note of the workplace culture and the environment we are determining what would they consider to be the perfect match. As an equitable employment agency, if we are listening to what the employer needs,  and then compare those to the wants of the clients we presently have on our caseload. We can then see if the needs are matched. If there is a client we believe that is a good match for the employer, and is interested in the vacant position, we send their resume and cover letter to the employer that the client has prepared. Discuss with the employer the strengths of the client and explore any wage incentives that maybe needed to hire this individual. If we don’t have anyone on our caseload that meets their needs, we are honest with the employer and explain that no one we are working with has the skills we need, but we will continue to support the employer by sharing their needs to other community partners who may have the right candidate.  Additionally, we will assist in the recruitment efforts to find candidates who are job searching on their own.

Once hired if there are accommodations needed we can assist the employer to access what is needed, from the accessible door, to the cordless headset, to the speech to text software to the accessible desk, we are all different and in reality all need different things to be the best we can be. With today’s technology persons with disabilities have a greater advantage of being more inclusive and productive in their work day. Many accommodations costs are minimal, but it is the understanding needed by staff to see these accommodations for what they are, the tools they need to do their job, no different than eye glasses, the ability to control their own environment and to feel comfortable and confident in their job.

 

The Nova Scotia Works menu of services for employers includes the following:


JOB MATCHING

The Employment Engagement team can match available job seekers with the skills required for your business. The Job Developer and Employment Engagement Specialists work closely with both employers and candidates to best promote success for both. We want to assist employers to find the right employees so that their workplaces can continue to grow and be successful. We want our job seekers to find the right workplaces where their skills are needed and they will want to stay and help the business thrive.


CAREER AND JOB FAIRS

The Employer Engagement team will help you coordinate and host career and job fairs so that interested candidates can learn more about the opportunities that you have and allow you to meet interested candidates. We offer a large meeting space to host fairs or can assist you in finding a venue for larger recruitment needs.


WORKFORCE SHOWCASES

The Employer Engagement team will coordinate a job fair with a difference. Candidates with highlighted skills set up information booths and employers seeking those skills are invited to come and meet them. Participating employers have expressed their success in finding candidates with the skills they need at past workforce showcases.


JOB DESCRIPTION / POSTING SUPPORT

The Employer Engagement team can assist with job description and job posting development. We can also assist you by sharing your job ads on our Facebook pages, posting in our centres and sharing with other NS Works Centres and other employment service agencies in the area to provide maximum reach to potential candidates.


INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ON AVAILABLE WAGE INCENTIVES

There a number of potential programs that can provide employers with financial assistance to hire new employees. We will help you explore the programs available, recommend the programs that fit your situation, and assist you with the application process.


JOB COACHING SUPPORT TO  NEW OR EXISTING EMPLOYEES

We will provide job coaching and employment maintenance support to new employees who need extra training or support to learn their role. We will also support a current employee who is in need of support to keep their position. We will provide information and support to both the employer and the employee to help the employment relationship be a success.



ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

Contact Jennifer Skuffham, Employment Engagement Specialist at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (902) 790 - 0024.