The mission of The HELP Center is to provide ex-offenders, offender, and low-income individuals support to restructure their lives and achieve success with counseling. educational, employment and supportive services.
Standards
- Work Experience (WEX) offers an opportunity for participants to practice or expand their work skills in a supportive and flexible work environment. The Work Experience is also used for participants to obtain current work references.
- Work Experience contracts must be developed with a business, nonprofit organization, community, or technical college, or federal, state, local or tribal governments or districts.
- Work Sites must be involved in the construction of the WEX contract, so they understand the purpose of the WEX and their training responsibilities.
- The WEX contract will list specific occupational skills to be learned.
- According to state and federal law, participants cannot be required to engage in unpaid work for more hours than their grant and food stamp amount divided by minimum wage.
- The participant cannot start until all parties sign the WEX contract. The WEX Supervisor must review and approve the WEX contract prior to the WEX Representative and the WEX Partner signing the contract. The participant may sign to acknowledge the contract.
- If the conditions for participation changes, the contract must be modified before ESD will agree to the new conditions.
Limitations
- The WEX Partner must not be in violation of federal, state, or local labor laws.
- The WEX Partner must not be involved in a strike, lockout, or other unusual labor condition.
- The WEX participant will not displace or infringe on the promotional opportunities of any regular employees. (The term "displacement" includes alteration of an employed worker's job resulting in the reduction of skill, content, salary or promotional opportunity
- Employment Security shall provide the participants with Industrial Insurance (L&I)
- The WEX participant will not replace a laid-off employee from the same or any substantially equivalent job or a terminated regular employee with the intention of filling the vacancy so created with a WEX participant.
- The WEX participant will not displace any current employees, including partial displacement such as reduction in hours, wages, or employment benefits.
- The WEX participant will not be involved in political activities during work hours.
- The WEX Partner's hiring procedures will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, or belief.
- The working conditions will not be unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous per WISHA laws.
- The WEX contract will not impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.
- The WEX participant must not be related to the supervisor or owner's family.
General Conditions
Accounting The WEX Partner will keep records for the participant including:
- Copy of WEX contract
- Time and attendance records
Note: All Employee records are subject to audit and WEX Partners must retain these records for four (4) years after completion of contract and WEX Partner must provide access to these records if requested.
Concurrence with Labor and Industries If an apprenticeship agreement is in effect during the contract period, the WEX Partner shall give a copy of this contract to the apprenticeship representative. If any provision of this training contract is inconsistent with any provision of the apprenticeship agreement, the WEX Partner shall obtain the representative's written concurrence. The WEX Partner shall retain written evidence of the notification to, and concurrence of, the apprenticeship representative.
Displacement of Workers No currently employed worker may be displaced by a WEX participant (including partial displacements such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime work, wages, or employment benefits No WEX participant shall be placed when any other individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially equivalent job or when the WEX Partner has terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise reduced its workforce. No training position can be created which infringes upon the promotional opportunities of current employees.
Equal Opportunity Employment The WEX Partner and WEX will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, political affiliation, belief, or age (except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification
Monitoring A WEX employment services counselor will visit the WEX Partner periodically to ensure all training objectives are being met and that all parties remain satisfied with progress.
Nepotism WEX may not contract with an WEX Partner to train an employee who is a member of the WEX Partner's family.
Political Activities Work associated with political activities is prohibited by this contract.
Safety and Health Standards The WEX Partner agrees to comply with appropriate safety and health standards as defined in the Federal Occupational and Health Safety Act (Public Law 91-596) and Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (RCW 49.17), and rules and regulations adopted under its authority.
Termination of Contract This contract will terminate upon 1) the contract end date, or 2) the completion of the specified training duration. Contract may be terminated earlier by WEX Partner or WEX upon written notice due to:
- Failure of employee to meet WEX Partner requirements.
- Failure of WEX Partner to comply with the terms and conditions and assurances of this contract.
- Termination or reduction federal funding
Unions No funds paid under this agreement may be used to promote or discourage union organizing.