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Work Placement FAQ for Employers

Thanks for your interest in hosting a work placement. We’ve put together this brief outline to help you understand some basic information about work placements. Please note that work placements can be very flexible and tailored to suit the employer and employee. We invite you to contact us for more information.

What is Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)?

TIOW is a joint federal-provincial initiative intended to provide unemployed older workers in vulnerable communities with programming aimed at increasing their employability, reintegrating them into employment, and ensuring they remain active and productive labour market participants while their communities undergo adjustment.

What individuals qualify for TIOW placements?

Participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be unemployed (or working less than 20 hours per week)
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Be between the ages of 55 and 64 (inclusive). There is the possibility of exceptions for workers aged 50-54.
• Live in an eligible community if the participant is unemployed due to economic restructuring in a vulnerable community that the Ministry has identified for TIOW
• Lack skills needed for successful re-integration into employment

What employers qualify for TIOW placements?

Most types of organizations – private sector, public sector, not-for-profit – are potentially eligible to host a placement. The employer must:

• Be legally authorized to operate in Ontario
• Comply with all provincial legislation and applicable federal legislation, regulation, and any other relevant standards, including but not limited to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Provide employment in Ontario
• Maintain appropriate third party general liability insurance through a private insurance carrier
• Maintain appropriate WSIB or alternate workplace safety insurance coverage for participants while on a job placement or, if not required to register with WSIB, maintain alternate workplace safety insurance coverage through a private insurance carrier
• Demonstrate the ability to provide the participant with adequate supervision and the training described in the participant’s Service Plan
• Place participants on the company’s payroll (if receiving a placement incentive) and provide the same employment terms, conditions, and benefits as for all regular employees

MTCU can provide workplace safety coverage for the person who’s in a work placement. Why do we have to confirm that we have our own workplace safety coverage?

Most employers are required to register with the Workplace Safety Insurance Board. (If you’re not sure about your organization, check with your local WSIB office.) When registration is not mandatory, an employer may register voluntarily, or purchase coverage from a private insurance company.

MTCU requires that employers have coverage in place, as a prerequisite to TIOW Placement eligibility, because placements can happen only with employers that have made “a demonstrated commitment to a safe workplace.” When insurance coverage is in place, employers are more likely to have properly constituted health & safety committees, training procedures and well-maintained equipment. Accidents can happen in any working environment, but they’re much less likely to occur when everyone is up to speed on safety.

Is third party liability insurance coverage necessary?

MTCU also requires employers to have third party liability insurance in place, to cover the costs of any damages caused by placement participants to the property of other people while on the job. Third party liability insurance is “protection of the insured against liability for damage to or destruction of the bodies or property of others.”

If we don’t have BOTH workplace safety coverage AND third party liability insurance, can a TIOW placement still happen?

No. Unfortunately, there’s no flexibility with this rule.

What safety training must be provided?

The Working Centre will provide an introduction to workplace safety concepts. The employer must provide specific on-site safety training at the beginning of the placement. The training need not be any different from what you provide to any new employee.

Why do we have to provide our Federal Business Number?

A Federal Business Number (the first nine digits of your HST number), issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, is a unique identifier for each organization. MTCU uses the number to administer the TIOW placement.

What is a training plan?

The training plan is an important component of a TIOW placement. The program is designed to help people develop their skills and get the training they need so that they can find work that matches their skills and interests.

When a placement is negotiated, the employer (placement provider), participant and service provider work out a plan that will help the participant. The plan sets out:

• Key job duties
• Training goals and expected training outcomes
• Training and support that will be provided to the trainee

The training plan is incorporated into the placement agreement, which must be signed before a placement can begin. We will provide assistance in writing the training plan and can provide samples of completed forms.

Is a training incentive available?

While not all employers will require or receive a placement incentive, in some cases TIOW can provide an on-the-job training incentive as part of a paid placement. In that situation, the employer hires the trainee, places the trainee on the company’s payroll and provides the same employment terms, conditions, and benefits as for all regular employees.

What amount of training incentive is available?

The amount of the incentive is negotiated, and is contingent on factors such as: length of the placement, the hourly wage, the skill level of the job, the type of training that can be provided, and the program budget. An hourly amount and a maximum amount (the total placement incentive available) are negotiated.

How long can a placement be?

Placements vary in length. A typical length of an unsubsidized volunteer placement is two to four weeks. The usual limit for a volunteer placement is six weeks. Most subsidized placements are less than three months in duration. In some cases they can last up to six months or more.

What if something goes wrong?

At The Working Centre we do our best to ensure participants are both capable and prepared to be successful in their placement. When we arrange a placement we commit ourselves to maintaining relations with the employer and participant and assist in working through any problems that may arise.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact Cameron Dearlove at (519)743-1151 ext. 166 or by email.