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Developing a Quality Workforce
March 2018
Vol. II, Issue 1
Harbor Freight Tools Recruitment Event
On Monday, February 5th, 2018 the Madera Workforce Assistance Center hosted a recruitment event for Harbor Freight Tools. The chain of retail stores will be opening a store in Madera soon. The store manager, the regional manager and other management team members were present to interview candidates for the following positions: Manager – Sales, Senior Associate, Logistics, Senior Associate – Sales, Sales Associates and Logistics Associates. The employer interviewed 85 candidates on that day. Harbor Freight Tools will be located on Country Club Drive and will be opening their doors in early April. 

The Business Services Team organized and promoted the event for the employer. This is part of our no cost business services. If you need to organize a recruitment event for your business at our facility or yours, please contact Jorge Espinosa at (559) 662-4540 or jespinosa@maderaworkforce.org
Local Business Spotlight
Established in 2005, Vail Insurance Services offers quality and affordable health and life insurance products. Vail Insurance specialize in the following California Insurance Services: Health Insurance  (Including Covered California),
Medicare Supplements & Advantage Plans, Part D Rx, Life Insurance (Term, Perm, U/L, Whole, Final Expense), Small Employer Group plans (Under 101 employees), Worker’s Comp, Dental, Vision, and Disability, Long Term Care, Overseas Traveler’s Insurance, and much more. Vail Insurance offers one on one quality and personalized customer service. Customer's needs is their priority.

Since 2014 the Workforce Development Board of Madera County has worked closely with Vail Insurance providing various business services, including the On-the-Job Training Program and the Transitional Job Training Program. Employer has successfully trained and hired four workforce program participants and received more than $35,000 to offset the cost of training new employees.

For information about the mentioned programs, click on the following links:
How to Create a Smart Staffing Plan
By Robert Half 

Are you an employer trying to determine how much staff and budget you’ll need for the next six to 12 months? While I don’t have a crystal ball, I do have some tips that can help you create a smart staffing plan.

Assessing your firm’s  staffing plan  begins by answering one question: Do you have an adequate number of workers currently in place to achieve your objectives, at least over the near term?

This is much more than a simple yes-or-no question, though. Let me explain, using two scenarios. Read more...
Unemployment Rate
January 2018

Madera County......................................................... 8.0%
Central Valley *(Avg.)............................................... 8.8%  
California................................................................... 4.6%
US............................................................................... 4.5%

The unemployment rate in the Madera County was 8.0 percent in January 2018, up from a revised 7.5 percent in December 2017, and below the year-ago estimate of 10.2 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent for California and 4.5 percent for the nation during the same period.  

*Central Valley counties include: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare.


Source: EDD March 2018 release of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
Reaching Out to Customers With Disabilities
As a business owner or operator, or someone thinking about opening a business, you may have wondered what you have to do to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This course explains how the ADA applies to businesses in ten short lessons. Putting these lessons into practice will allow you to comply with the ADA and welcome a whole new group of customers to purchase your goods, products, and services. You may also find that making your business more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities is not as difficult as you thought. 
Business 30-Second Training Series
The Business 30-Second Training Series was developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in retaining and accommodating existing employees who experience the onset of a disability.

Did you know that a person with vision impairment can be fully productive in our community? Persons with vision impairments and blindness can work in a competitive integrated setting.

For example, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) worked with a consumer whom experienced vision loss in the right eye and severe astigmatism in the left eye. Through DOR guidance, counseling and assistance with attending a beauty school, low vision evaluation and low vision aids such as magnifier glasses, they now currently work for a local beauty shop and earn a monthly salary of approximately $2,000.

Blind Field Services within the Specialized Division of Department of Rehabilitation works with blind and visually impaired persons to provide educational and employment opportunities to become gainfully employment. These services include:

Low vision evaluations and low vision aids; independent living skills training; orientation and mobility training; Assistive technology assessments; Assistive technology training;  employment preparation; job training; job placement.



For more information about BFS services in the San Joaquin Valley, please contact the Department of Rehabilitation of the State of California at 559-445-6059 or email mespitia@dor.ca.gov.
No Cost HR Hotline
Customer Service Agent
questions answers ask the right question and get an answer help or support desk solve problems and find solutions road sign 3D illustration
The Workforce Development Board of Madera County and Sierra HR Partners have partnered to provide you with expert Human Resources information. The Madera County HR hotline is designed to handle questions from employers regarding Human Resources issues such as:
  • ADA and other accommodations in the workplace
  • Hiring and Firing Do’s and Don’ts
  • Paid Sick Leave Laws
  • Wage and Hour Laws
  • Employee Handbook Policies
  • And More... 
 
Hotline hours
Monday-Friday
8am-5pm

 

 

 
This hotline is funded by the Madera County Workforce Investment Corporation Disability Employment Accelerator Project.
Mural Reveal Ceremony
On Thursday, February 15th, the Workforce Assistance Center unveiled a mural painted by a talented local artist Maria Inez Madrigal in honor of Madera County and its hard-working residents. A considerable group of staff, partners and community members attended a ceremony to the unveiling of the mural. The mural highlights different well-known characteristics of Madera County such as its landscaping, agricultural fields, products, manufacturing and the workforce sectors. Businesses and the community are welcome to come in to our Workforce Center to appreciate this fine piece of art.