Prospective employers may have questions about recruitment and hiring through the Employment Support Services of Boost Collaborative. To make this easy, we've listed here frequent questions that we've been asked.
Q: What is competitive employment?
A: Boost Collaborative’s Competitive Employment program identifies and develops viable employment opportunities in the community for people with disabilities. Work requirements of an employer are matched with the capabilities and interests of a prospective employee through job analysis and job matching. After the hiring process, on-the-job training, structured follow-up, job retraining, and employer consultation services can be provided.
Q: Where do Boost Collaborative participants come from?
A: Although people come to Boost Collaborative from a variety of sources, most competitive employment candidates are referred from Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA).
Q: How does Boost Collaborative competitive employment program work?
A: After a careful assessment of an individual’s skills and vocational interests, a Boost Collaborative's job developer will make contacts throughout the community, assisting prospective employers in identifying appropriate jobs within the context of their particular business. A comprehensive job analysis is conducted to ensure a good employer/employee match. A standard job interview follows, after which the final hiring decision is the employers.
Q: How is Boost Collaborative involved after the hire?
A: We are available to provide orientation, training, and support services to employers, their new employees, and co-workers to encourage a smooth and successful job placement. For example, employment specialists can facilitate job training, provide consultation on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or teach co-workers how to work successfully with diverse populations.
Q: What reasonable accommodations will I be expected to make for my new employee?
A: Reasonable accommodations may include having the employment specialist analyze specific job tasks, restructure how specific tasks are completed and/or teach tasks differently to best fit employer/employee needs. Most accommodations cost nothing at all and, in most cases, the employment specialist’s time is free to the employer. We act as consultants to help your new employee fit into the job and the environment.
Q: What if I hire someone and it doesn't work out?
A: Boost Collaborative staff will offer a variety of support services to make your employment relationship a successful one. However, as in the case of any other employee, you are the employer and you make final decisions regarding your business.
Q: What benefits are there if I hire someone with a disability?
A: When you provide a job opportunity to an individual with a disability you are building a quality workforce of loyal, dedicated employees and reducing employee turnover. You are enriching your business and the community by contributing to diversity in the workplace, and you’re helping to relieve the strain on the community’s tax base by adding more taxpayers to the workforce.
Q: What is supported employment?
A: Boost Collaborative’s Supported Employment program is a creative approach to employment for people with developmental disabilities and a valuable resource for local businesses. Employees with developmental disabilities receive individualized training and long-term support to ensure their performance meets employer standards and expectations and encourages job retention.
Q: How does Boost Collaborative's supported employment program work?
A: After a careful assessment of an individual’s skills and vocational interests, a Boost Collaborative job developer will conduct a job search in the community, assisting prospective employers in the identification of appropriate jobs and tasks to meet the needs of their specific businesses. A comprehensive job analysis is conducted to ensure a good employer/employee match. A standard job interview follows, after which the final hiring decision is the employer’s.
Q: How is Boost Collaborative involved after I agree to hire or offer the job to a participant in supported employment?
A: Employment training specialists, or job coaches, provide new employees with a comprehensive job orientation, followed by on-going, individualized training and assistance to promote satisfactory work performance. They may also provide job modification assistance to employers, disability awareness training for co-workers, and on-going follow-along support services to the employee.
Q: How does supported employment benefit the community?
A: When you provide a job opportunity to an individual with a disability, you are enriching your business by contributing to diversity in the workplace. Most importantly, you are helping to relieve the strain on the community’s tax base by adding more taxpayers to the workforce.
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