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How many times have you heard an employer say, “We can’t find workers,” or “We can’t find workers who want to work”? There is no silver bullet to find workers, especially those in the trades. I recently bumped into Jackie Bott at an event and in our brief conversation she mentioned a novel workforce solution. I was quick to follow up.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, CID had around 55-60 employees. CID has two lines of business and usually when one is down, the other is busy, but post-Covid-19 both lines were busy, so they needed workers.
They were looking for welders, carpenters, electricians, and general labor. Jackie, who is not a human resources person, had to wear a new hat. She searched for months, scouring INDEED, staffing agencies, and explored co-ops with trade schools.
Jackie was constantly reading resumes. During interviews she asked simple questions. “Do you know you have to come every day and be on time?” She was “ghosted” many times.
Some days luck finds you. A stranger, Jim, from Hope Center Ministries, Butler County, stopped unannounced. He said they were starting a new program for addicts, and he had to place them in work centers.
CID decided to give the program a try. At that time, business was slow, but they wrote up the contract with Hope Center Ministries. Although CID didn’t bring in any workers right away, Scott knew of other companies having difficulty hiring and passed the information along.
In late 2023 CID brought in three workers from the program. CID eventually brought in several more workers which has solved their labor problem.
The program works like this: It is a full year residential program for men who suffer from addictions of ANY type; drugs, gambling, sex, alcohol etc. It is faith-based and affiliated with a church. Once accepted into the program, men have room and board at the Center. They spend the first 30 days at the center to acclimate them to the program. The next 40-week period they are placed into a workplace. Some have skill sets; others are trained on the job.
During the 40-week period, the men work but do not receive a paycheck. Instead, the company pays the Hope Center, not the workers. After 40 weeks they become CID’s employees, and they are paid directly by the company. The Center provides transportation to and from the workplace. They simultaneously train the men to manage their finances so they can eventually buy a car or rent an apartment, since they do not stay at the Hope Center indefinitely.
The Hope Center doesn’t consider them a successful graduate until they complete their first year in the program. For the year following graduation, the Center stays in contact with the men. The men must remain employed and pass drug tests. If they revert to their old addictions, they have to leave the program.
Part of the mission is rehabilitation and part of it is helping the men to mend any broken fences for instance with girlfriends, spouses, and other family members.
Here’s the best part. The men want to work. They are very polite, eager to learn and understand how fortunate they are to have such an opportunity.
Jackie gave a big “Thumbs up” to the men and the Hope Center Ministries. This is a notable example of ISSUES & INNOVATIONS. A novel solution to a workforce problem has been shared to the benefit of other employers. Thank you, Jackie and CID Associates, Inc.
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