Unfortunately I am often out of sync with my peers and betters.
Wage subsidy and the promotion of wage subsidies as a method to increase the employment of people (and I include people with disability) would be an example of such.
Before I press on – have you ever come with a subsidy? I have not and therefore it occurs to me that I lack the experience to be able to offer valid first hand comment – nevertheless, in the 36 years I have contributed taxes, and for any and each employer that has paid me, I have never attracted a subsidy.
I just got paid, and I hope sincerely that I have always earned sufficient to enable my employer to profit from that work. Because that the way it works: I employ you, pay you $10 and you make me, or save me, more than that.
So why a subsidy?
My opinion (and that’s what this blog is about) is that this comes from a philosophical stance: that the recipient is not deemed to be of sufficient worth to allow for the relationship that I have described. In relation to the employment of people that have a disability I find this concept particularly troubling – surely, if such a person is going to be able to escape the misconception that they are a burden or of less value than their non disabled peers (perceptions that create what Wolfensberger describes as ‘wounding’ experiences) then surely a subsidy risks devaluation of individual worth?
Many years ago and in a rush of ill considered enthusiasm (and possibly less faith or experience with my products value) I became caught up with a scheme that offered employers $7,000 to hire from a range of disadvantaged groups.
A much wiser Penrith business owner pulled me up: “Son, I don’t care if you give me $70,000, if the bastard can’t do the job he ain’t worth having here” And he was right.
The issue centres on ability – and if NOVA candidates have or can develop the ability to create the equation described above (make their boss a profit) than they will gain and retain employment.
Subsidies have only a minor effect upon the creation of opportunity (at least in every study I have read) and perpetuate an inaccurate perception of validity or worth about disadvantaged employees and can be particularly demeaning and damaging to their recipients.
That's not to say that NOVA never uses wage subsidy - sadly an environment has created in which some employers pretty much demand government cash. However, I am proud of the fact that we rarely* resort to this approach, preferring to market on individual ability and our own post placement support as the offset for any initial productivity issues.
Personally, I remain staunchly opposed.
* 6 NOVA outlets have not used a subsidy in the past 12 months , 6 have used subsidies twice or less.
(Whoops! – Don’t Google ‘subsidy’ – you get a rival DES provider! )
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
Subscribe to this Blog - blog.novaemployment.com.au Copy the link above and paste it into your favourite Reader to subscribe to an RSS feed of this blog. To watch a short video explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web click here
Your Comments There are currently no comments on this article
Previous Posts
The records keep falling! Following on from last post, I'd like to give some public recognition to my staff who have not only stood up under the tests of the Pandemic, they've continued to achieve record breaking results....
Never been so busy! At the risk of jinxing it, there's never been a better time to be looking for work - NOVA is getting scores of inquiries for workers, breaking all records each week with no sign of a let-up in sight!
The demand might be simply a post lockdown mini boom and maybe the bubble will pop - I have to say there's no sign of that....
July Rant There's an inquiry into Disability Employment Service and how best the new National Contract (2023) might serve the needs of the Commonwealth - note, that I haven't said, 'the needs of people with disability'....
Review Australia's $1bn disability employment service criticised over poor outcomes and reduced employment - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/31/australias-disability-employment-down-3-in-past-decade-as-service-scheme-criticised-for-poor-outcomes....
Thank you Mark Zuckerberg (not!) Friends of NOVA may have seen our Facebook page is down - courtesy Mark Zuckerberg NOVA/Focus are victims of much larger forces - no idea when or if we'll be restored - more as events unfold....
They Don't Count Gaining or holding formal qualifications can set a person up for a lifetime career. Holding appropriate qualifications that can lead to lifelong careers, tradespeople generally make a good income and enjoy well deserved respect....
Benchmarks To access NOVA Employment or any Disability Employment Service (DES), almost everyone is required to be assessed by the Services Australia Services (Centrelink) to determine their "Benchmark" hours: Benchmark hours are the pay point for service providers; being the minimum working hours required for the DES provider to bill the Government and the assessed maximum hours a person is deemed capable of working with DES support....
International Day of People with a Disability
International Day of People with a Disability
It's IDPwD and we have a 1 hour 'special' screening on SBS from 4.30 this afternoon.
Our Ryan Goodwin has done a great job of selecting some of the great entries from NOVA's 'Focusonability' short film festival - we love the Festival and hope that you'll love these films, gathered from around the world....
2020 - the first half When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Good! - Now they've left us, let's look at reality - when the going gets tough, many people suffer and dis-proportionally, people with disability suffer more....
Countdown Clock II
What's the countdown clock all about?
It's our closing time and a countdown to the end of a truly remarkable month of extraordinary effort by my staff....
Countdown Clock Regular viewers will have noticed a countdown clock ticking away (above)
What's that all about?
Can't say - you have to wait till 4.30pm (a little earlier for staff)
...
Just the best 3 One thing we all love is a winner which is why there's a smile on my face it will be pretty hard to shift.
There's a nightmare pandemic sweeping the world (carried off my mum), the economy has tanked in a never before seen disaster that's left more than a million Aussies unemployed and the only news seems to be bad news....
More than Money!
If asked, most of us would say we went to work for the money, to pay our bills or support our family.
All true, and yet work means so much more:
Prior to finding a job with NOVA employment Glenn* struggled to keep jobs for more than a few months and was generally working as a dishwasher in restaurants which he found to be quite unsatisfying work....
Life Changers II
How are you in the mornings (or evenings, or nights)? NOVA is an 'old school' Disability Employment Service - we find work in the general community with identical pay and conditions as those enjoyed by people who dont have a disability....
Life Changers Required! Received yesterday:
I was unemployed for 24 years because of my disability. I was looking for a job for the last 2 and half years. With the help of (NOVA Staff) I found suitable job and working in the law company for last one year....
Try us!
Don't know about you but I have felt pretty bruised from all the horrible stuff brought upon us by this damn virus - seeing so many folk losing their jobs is particularly awful and the uncertainty generated for everyone, particularly for workers who have a disability is dreadful to see....
Best Ever II
Following from last post:
NOVA Employment has operated for 30 years. Comparing all results from previous years, February 2020 has been our most successful to date - Following on from January that's 2 in a row and every indication March will also be a record breaker....
Best Ever
NOVA Employment posted another 'best ever' result for the first month of 2020.
Despite the most dreadful natural disasters and with many businesses closed for the holidays, the NOVA team delivered more new workers than in any previous January results, beating past 5 years average by 25% and previous (2017) 'best ever' numbers by 5%....
Depressing cracked record!
A good friend will occasionally pull me up with the reminder that I have a tendency to rant, 'rave on slop jaw' if I remember correctly....
Big Win! Saturday night saw a big win for the NOVA team and for people with disability when our Podcast partners NOVA Entertainment- no relationship other than mates - received the following:
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - BRANDED
Focus On Ability; Nova Employment & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team , NOVA Entertainment
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - UNBRANDED
Hamish & Andy; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, PodcastOne Australi
Taken from the web: https://www....
Subscribe to this Blog