ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM
Ottawa County’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) program offers employers a way to be partially reimbursed for hiring and training job seekers in permanent positions. Through OJT programs, employers may be reimbursed up to 50% of the wages earned by eligible new trainees while they learn the job. This funding compensates for training workers in skills they need to help business thrive. An OJT agreement must be developed before new employees are hired. OJT programs are federally funded and funding is available on a first come, first serve basis. Total reimbursement cannot exceed $8,000, and the length of the training period cannot exceed six months.
If you can answer “Yes” to these questions, you may be eligible for OJT reimbursement:
– Will the new employee need training to succeed on the job?
– Will you directly hire the employee?
– Will you retain the trainee if he/she is successful?
– Will you agree to an OJT agreement being in place prior to training the employee?
THE OJT FORMS ARE NOT YET ACTIVE
IMPORTANT ITEMS TO NOTE:
– The OJT needs to be in place BEFORE the employee’s first day of employment.
– Employers must offer the same treatment and compensation for workers in OJT as workers in the same or similar positions.
– Employers must not have laid off workers from the same/similar positions, and may not use OJT to displace current workers or reduce their hours, wages or benefits.
This funding compensates YOU, the employer, for training workers in skills they need to help your business thrive.
To start the process, please complete the following forms:
You must register your company as a potential OJT employer before an employee can begin working. Please complete the OJT Employer Information form listed above. Once you submit the form, it will be automatically forwarded to our Business & Workforce Development Manager. If there are any questions about the submitted form, we will reach out to you. (If your company has participated in an OJT before, please skip to Step 3)
A W-9 Form from the employee is required before all other documents/forms are submitted. Please complete the W-9 Form listed above. Once you submit the form, it will be automatically forwarded to our Business & Workforce Development Manager. If there are any questions about the W-9 Form, we will reach out to you.
Please complete the OJT Employer Information listed above. Once you submit the form, it will be automatically forwarded to our Business & Workforce Development Manager. If there are any questions about the submitted form, we will reach out to you.
Please complete the OJT Trainee Plan listed above. The submission of the Training Plan is included with the OJT Trainee Plan. Once you submit the form, it will be automatically forwarded to our Business & Workforce Development Manager. If there are any questions about the submitted form, we will reach out to you.
*Modifications to the training plan may be executed as needed. The most common modifications is extending the training period and changing a training plan. If this happens, please contact Carolyn Rodenhauser at crodenhauser@ocic.biz.
Please complete the OJT Agreement listed above. Once you submit the agreement, it will be automatically forwarded to our Business & Workforce Development Manager. If there are any questions about the submitted form, we will reach out to you.
Once your have completed steps 1-4, we will review the documents and process the OJT for approval. Once the OJT is approved, you can begin training your new hire and submit your invoice for reimbursement listed above.