Work Experience

What is a Work Experience? 

The Work Experience Program is a short-term, structured employment experience that takes place at public, private, or nonprofit businesses. A typical work experience lasts between 100 to 200 hours. Participants can work in a variety of situations, however all labor laws and restrictions that govern employment are in place during this program. Each participant is assigned an Employment & Training Counselor who will visit the work site as needed and work with you as your program liaison.  They will check with you to see if the employee is doing what is expected of them.

Purpose 

The purpose of a Work Experience is to enable individuals with a limited work history or industry experience the opportunity to gain and practice meaningful work skills that will lead to employment.

The Agreement 

Genesee County Job Development Bureau agrees to pay the wage and worker’s compensation for an individual in the program. The business/worksite host agrees to provide a temporary job opportunity and supervision.  The supervision includes communicating clear job expectations to the employee and providing performance feedback to the employee and  the assigned counselor.

How does a Work Experience benefit the business?

  • The business/worksite host has an extra worker whose wage and workers’ compensation paid by Genesee County Job Development Bureau for the duration of the work experience.
  • The business/worksite host has the opportunity to hire the employee when the work experience is completed. There is no obligation to hire. Consider it a trial period with the option to hire.
  • By helping to increase an individual’s work skills, the business/work site host helps train and mentor the workforce. This ultimately results in employees who add value to the business.
  • The business is seen as a community partner.
  • The business helps the economic stability of our community