Words from the Chamber

This week’s column is a continuation of last week’s discussion of some of the efforts of Virginia Career Works Central Region (VCWCR) that serves the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell, and the City of Lynchburg. The VCWCR may be referred to by many of you as the “unemployment office” but this moniker does not do justice to its involvement in our commerce on many levels.

In this column, I will present the Work Experience program which is a valuable resource available to both youth and to employers.

The program is very straightforward. A youth can work under the direction of an employer for 320 hours during which the youth is compensated at the current rate of $11 per hour by the VCWCR at no cost to the employer. The VCWCR also provides liability coverage for the individual. Since the per hour compensation is an incentive stipend and not a wage per se, there is no tax obligation or workmen’s compensation requirement.

The individual may work a second 320-hour assignment during a year period, however, it must be for a different employer.

The program is obviously designed to assist our youth in getting started on a career path but it can also be a great benefit to business, especially where the additional manpower might fill a seasonal or short-term need. Another potential benefit to business might be to have a cost-free evaluation period on an individual that may eventually become a full-time employee. To illustrate this better, the following is an actual story of one success achieved locally.

Jxxx (name anonymous) was referred to the program through the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) while he was in 10th grade. He was connected with a work experience that was immediately unsuccessful because he was not ready for a fast-paced environment. An effort was made to find a work experience setting for him through which he could learn how to work at a faster pace.

He found his ideal placement at Gleaning for the World. His GFTW supervisor was able to teach him how to be methodical and careful while also working at the required pace of a job site. He is now working at a local lumberyard and is a valued employee.

In the meantime, Jxxx completed a program entitled Career Essentials, passing the final exam with the highest score of anyone, including adults.He applied for the Virginia Technical Institute Electrical 1 program and was accepted.

He is now receiving support with tuition costs and transportation assistance and he is in good standing and on track to finish the program this year. Jxxx is an awesome example of how a work experience can help to develop workplace skills, increase confidence and set the stage for a long-term career path.

Success such as this requires efforts to match an employer’s needs with an individual’s situation. If you are interested in this program from either side of the experience, contact Sarah Grant or Tim Saunders with the VCWCR and they will get to work for you. If I can facilitate your contact or anything in the process, do not hesitate to reach out to me.

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