November 1999 WORKplus: Making the Most of Work Experiences
W hether they are waiting tables, pumping gas, or ringing up groceries, millions of young adults are a part of the entry-level workforce. Entry-level jobs can be more than a way for young people to earn a paycheck — they also offer important opportunities for new employees to learn skills they can build on in their future careers.To take advantage of these workplace learning opportunities, Public/Private Ventures teamed with NWREL to design WORKplus. This set of work-based materials encourages young employees to make the most of their early work experiences and helps supervisors develop skills in coaching, motivating, and increasing the productivity of their young workers.
Designed to be used by employers, supervisors, employees, schools, community-based organizations, and workforce development agencies, WORKplus contains three components:
The Employee and Supervisor Development Workshops include preparation notes and background reading for facilitators, scripted learning activities, overheads, and reproducible handouts. All of the workshops emphasize communications, teamwork, and group problem solving, and each session concludes with an activity so that participants can immediately apply the information and skills to their jobs. Workshops can be offered independently or in a customized sequence that meets individual program needs.
- Employee Development Workshops consist of twenty 60- to 90-minute sessions, organized into four topics: serving the customer, working as a team, decisionmaking and problem solving on the job, and becoming a professional. These guide entry-level employees to become more thoughtful, confident, and productive in their current jobs, and to connect the skills they are learning now to potential careers.
- Supervisor Development Workshops help supervisors understand the developmental needs of young people, build their own skills in communicating and coaching, and implement strategies for helping their young employees gain skills and practice behaviors that lead to success on the job. The ten 60-minute sessions are organized into three topics: working with young employees, coaching at the workplace, and enriching the experience of work.
- A Staff Guide provides information on facilitation techniques, ideas for delivering the workshops and assessing the outcomes, and guidelines for successful collaboration among organizations interested in developing the employability of young people.
Prices are $75 for the Employee Development Workshops, $50 for the Supervisor Development Workshops, $25 for the Staff Guide, and $125 for the complete set, plus $10 shipping and handling. Order from: Public/Private Ventures, Publications Department, 2005 Market Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA 19103. To order by phone, call (215) 557-4465.
NWREL also offers Connections: Linking Work and Learning, a set of tools for planning and implementing work-based learning. Titles in the Connections series include: Teachers Learning in the Community: A Field Guide, Employer Recruitment and Orientation Guide, Career Exploration Guides, Job Shadow Guides, Integrated Workplace Learning Project, Learning in the Community: From A to Z, Survival Skills: A Guide to Making It on Your Own, and Learning Site Analysis Form. Please see the Document Order Form to order products in the Connections series.
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