A joint effort to teach people the skills needed to seize employment and perform effectively in the workplace is set to be up and running by June 1, The Royal Gazette has learned.

International Strategic Management Ltd. (ISM) and the Department of Labour and Training have teamed up to offer a course in Job Readiness and Employment Retention.

ISM president Michael Stowe reported: "I am designing and developing a programme called Job Readiness and Employment Retention, the purpose of which is to assist young people in acquiring functional workplace job readiness skills.'' He also designed the Edu-Tech Managed Technical/Vocational Training and Career Development programme which combines technical training with life skills development.

Presently 16 Bermudians are enrolled in the programme at J.F. Drake State Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama. They are constantly managed by Edu-Tech from their admittance to college until they secure a job.

But in any workplace situation, explained Mr. Stowe, the correct attitude determined an employee's behaviour which, in turn, determined his or her performance and eventual success.

"Qualifying in a vocational field, obtaining employment and staying employed are three entirely different challenges.

"Asocial behavioural deficits -- absenteeism, verbal aggression, physical aggression, non-conformity -- are career inhibitive personal characteristics which impact adversely on job placement, performance, productivity and retention.'' Participants in the Edu-Tech programme and Department of Labour and Training programmes have been identified as having inadequate skills for the workplace.

This new programme fills this gap, said Mr. Stowe.

"In order to achieve successful job placement and employment retention for prospective employees, the Job Readiness and Employment Retention Programme will serve to ameliorate and modify career inhibitive asocial behaviour.'' It will be managed by the Department of Labour and Training who will identify people that need to take part in it.

"While the training will ensure that the person is qualified for the job. The Job Readiness programme will ensure that the person is ready for employment,'' he stressed.

The Edu-Tech participants will be able to take advantage of the programme when they graduate and return to Bermuda in 1999 while the Department of Labour and Training's programme participants will be able to sign on as of June.

But the programme is open to anyone who lacks job readiness skills and there are no age restrictions.

And once the participants find, or return to work, they will be monitored and re-admitted to the programme if necessary.

"There is a minimal chance of people falling through the cracks with this programme,'' said Mr. Stowe. "We will not abandon people once they are placed.'' CONFERENCE CON