Employers: Help Put Illinois to Work
Put Illinois to Work (PIW) is a new jobs program that provides employers with a unique and promising opportunity to benefit from federal stimulus money, at no cost to the employer, while supporting Illinois’ economy and workforce. Participant employees are paid $10/hour by the state and are expected to work at least 30 hours/week. The PIW program is currently funded through September 30, 2010, but prospects are good that the funding will be extended for another year.
Employers benefit from PIW in several ways:
1. PIW provides access to temporary free labor.
2. There is no long-term commitment. Although encouraged to hire PIW workers after the program ends, this decision remains entirely at the discretion of the employer.
3. If employers do decide to hire PIW participants full-time at the end of the program, they will receive tax credits.
Virtually all employers -- public, private, and non-profit -- are eligible to participate in PIW. Participant employees are paid out of a fund created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in exchange for employers’ in-kind contribution of supervision and training.
PIW was launched by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) on April 1, 2010. Already, nearly 350 employers across the state have signed up to participate, creating more than 2,825 jobs. Recently, the New York Times published an article highlighting the positive experiences of two participating employers, Michael’s Fresh Market and DeNormandie Towel and Linen Supply Company.
For more information and to become a PIW employer, go to www.PutIllinoistoWork.Illinois.gov.
This post was coauthored by Jessica Sklarsky.
Put illinois to work is the best thing illinois could have came up with.I have been looking for work for several years and had no success.Before put illinois to work I was working some temp jobs that only lasted no longer than 90 days which required me to travel to work and from work for 2 hrs each way.By the end of the night im so tired I cant take care of everything thats was needed at home.with the put illinois to work program they placed me in a great location which only reqiures me to travel 45 minutes to work and gave me the opportunity to catch up on a lot of my bills.Thank you govenor Quinn Love the Program.
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY IM GRATEFUL AND SO THANKFUL.