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L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

JobsFest Employer Incentive Scheme: Financial Support

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

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A decision made 14 September 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2015-0075

Decision Summary Title :

JobsFest Employer Incentive

Date of Decision Summary:

11 September 2015

Decision Summary Author:

Back to Work Manager

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

Back to Work JobsFest Employer Incentive Guidelines

Date of Written Report:

26 August 2015

Written Report

Back to Work Manager

 

Written Report :

 

Public

Subject: JobsFest Employer Incentive

Decision(s): The Minister decided to implement a non-statutory JobsFest Employer Incentive to provide financial support to employers to recruit locally qualified jobseekers for up to eight weeks at no financial cost.

Reason(s) for Decision: Under the JobsFest Employer Incentive, up to 8 weeks wages and Social Security contributions will be paid to employers who hire locally qualified jobseekers who have been registered as Actively Seeking Work since January 2015. The incentive will run from 5 October to the 29 November 2015 and is open to all Jersey employers.

 

The key aims of the incentive are to :

  • Encourage and financially support employers to recruit staff who are longer term unemployed.
  • Bring those furthest from the job market closer to securing long-term sustainable unsubsidised employment.
  • Enhance the employability and in-work skills of registered jobseekers that have been out of work since January 2015.

 

The JobsFest Employer Incentive supports roles between 25-35 hours per week and provides funding at minimum wage (£6.78 per hour) plus employer Social Security contributions (6.5%). The weekly value of the incentive will therefore range between £180.52 (25 hours) to £252.72 (35 hours) depending on the number of hours worked. Employers are able to pay a higher hourly rate and also offer employment for more hours per week. Employers who subsequently retain candidates on a permanent full time basis may claim a pro rata amount of the Employment Incentive (depending on candidate criteria).

Resource Implications: An initial budget of £180,500 has been allocated, approximately enough for the recruitment of 74 individuals into posts for 35 hours per week during the period, as well as associated marketing and logistical costs and a programme of events for all jobseekers. Support staff will be required so that the scheme operates in an effective and efficient manner, funding will be provided from the existing budget held by the Social Security Department for the Back to Work Programme.

Action required: Back to Work Manager to implement the JobsFest Employer Incentive.

Signature:

Position: Minister

 

Date Signed:

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

JobsFest Employer Incentive Scheme: Financial Support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

States_of_Jersey.jpg 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Work

JobsFest Employer Incentive
Guidelines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Work

Working for Jersey, working for you


SOJ_CMYK.jpgIntroduction

 

The JobsFest Employer Incentive is an eight week initiative which will enable employers to hire locally qualified jobseekers at no financial cost.

 

Under the JobsFest Employer Incentive, up to eight weeks’ wages and social security contributions will be paid to employers who hire locally qualified jobseekers that have been registered as actively seeking work throughout 2015.  The incentive will run from Monday 5 October to Sunday 29 November 2015 and is open to all Jersey employers.

 

Employers who subsequently retain candidates on permanent contracts may also claim further incentive payments (see page 3).

 

The key aims of the incentive are to:

  • Encourage & financially support employers to recruit staff who are longer term unemployed.
  • Bring those furthest from the job market closer to securing long-term sustainable unsubsidised employment.  
  • Enhance the employability and in-work skills of registered jobseekers who have been out of work for at least nine months.
  • Provide employers with the opportuinity to recruit the number of candidates, which best reflects the forthcoming seasonal work schedule of the business.

 

In addition to the Employer Incentive, Back to Work are also running an eight week JobsFest programme of events to support jobseekers into employment.

 

How the JobsFest Employer Incentive works:

Back to Work will:

  • Fund salaries directly to employers on the following basis:
    • Funding will be available for a maximum 8 week period between 5th October and 29th November 2015.
    • Funding will be based on minimum wage (£6.78) plus employer’s Social Security contributions (6.5%). Employers can pay a higher wage using their own funds should they wish to do so by topping up the hourly rate the employee will be paid.
    • Funding will be based on roles that require employees to work for a minimum of 25 hours and a maximum of 35 hours per week. Employers can top up hours using their own funds should they wish to do so (for example 40 hours per week).
    • The value of the incentive is based on the number of contracted hours the employee works (if an employee only works 25 hours per week funding will be on a pro-rata basis).
  • Work with the target group of candidates to ensure they are prepared to take full advantage of the incentive employment opportunities.
  • Provide a fully supported recruitment process to ensure the employer can select and employ the right candidate for their needs.
  • Provide an in work support service whereby a Back to Work advisor can support the employer and the employee once the employee has commenced the role. The advisor will help to ensure that any concerns or queries are raised at an early stage to help to ensure the smooth running of the programme.

As an employer under the JobsFest Employer Incentive you will:

  • Employ candidates under your usual terms and conditions.  
  • Provide the successful candidate with a contract of employment. Help with contracts can be provided if required.
  • Pay successful candidate in line with usual pay roll procedures including employee Social Security contribution schedule and ITIS returns.
  • Train and support the employee in their new role.
  • Provide ongoing feedback to the employee and Back to Work on how they are progressing and provide a formal review at the mid-point of the incentive period, the completed review paperwork will need to be received by Back to Work, before the final payment can be processed.

 

Qualifying employers

The JobsFest Employer Incentive is open to any Jersey registered employer, who employs a candidate from the target group between the 5th October and 29th November 2015. This includes businesses, States departments, Parishes, charities, not-for-profit organisations and States-owned utility organisations.

SOJ_CMYK.jpgQualifying candidates (‘Target Group’)

The JobsFest Employer Incentive applies to candidates that have been registered as actively seeking work throughout 2015. These candidates will be:

  • Locally qualified for work, i.e. Entitled or Entitled to work , and
  • Registered with the Social Security Department as actively seeking work or active clients of the Jersey Employment Trust.

Excluded candidates

  • Any person who falls outside the target group.
  • Any person who is not locally qualified for work.
  • Non-EU nationals whose visa does not allow them recourse to public funds.
  • Any candidate who is deemed unsuitable for the JobsFest Employer Incentive.

Qualifying contracts of work

  • Permanent contracts.
  • Fixed term contracts.
  • Temporary contracts
  • Zero hours contracts. Incentive payments will be paid on the actual hours worked.

Excluded contracts of work

  • Any role which is already subject to grant aid or subsidy from another States of Jersey scheme.
  • Any job paid with an offset for accommodation and/or food.
  • Any role which is paid below the Minimum Wage (£6.78 per hour).

Value of funding

The JobsFest Employer Incentive supports roles between 25-35 hours per week and provides funding at minimum wage (£6.78) plus employer Social Security contributions (6.5%). The weekly value of the incentive will therefore range between £180.52 (25 hours) to £252.72 (35 hours) depending on the number of hours worked. Employers are able to pay a higher hourly rate and also offer employment for more hours per week.

 

The maximum payable per candidate over the 8 weeks is therefore 8 weeks at 35 hours per week;

(8 x £252.72=£2,021.76).

 

Back to Work is keen to encourage employers to keep candidates on for long-term roles. In addition to the 8 week JobsFest Employer Incentive, further funding may be available for roles that become permanent.

 

Employment Incentive

If the individual recruited under the JobsFest incentive was either registered as actively seeking work for longer than 6 months (if they are aged 16-24) or for 12 months (if they are aged over 25) prior to starting work and is then recruited into a permanent 35 hour contract then the employer will be able to claim the Employment Incentive (up to £6,500) less any payments already made under the JobsFest Employer Incentive.

Additional types of pay

The JobsFest Employer Incentive is based on the number of contracted hours worked by the employee.

Additional payments such as overtime, bonuses, commission, tips, benefits in kind (e.g. car, uniforms etc.) do not affect the amount of the JobsFest Employer Incentive payable to the employer. These additional payments can therefore still be paid to the employee.

 

Claiming incentive payments

Employers claim incentive payments in arrears. Our aim is to make payments quickly to employers and to achieve this there are three payment dates:

Payments

Working period

Deadline for claims

(By 5pm on each date)

Payment Dates

(BACS)

1

5th October – 1st November

 Tuesday 3rd November

Friday 13th November

2

2rd November – 29th November

Tuesday 1st December

Friday 11th December

3

Any outstanding payments

Friday 11th December

Friday 18th December

 

Employers will need to provide supporting evidence that the individual has been paid (e.g. payslips).

It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that employees recruited with the support of the JobsFest Employer Incentive are aware that personal information (employment contracts and payslips) will be provided to Social Security as evidence for a claim. Employers should note that if they don’t obtain an employee’s consent it is a breach of data protection rules.

Outline incentive process

  • Employer contacts Back to Work to discuss potential role, reserve JobsFest Employer Incentive funding and book place on Job Match.
  • Employer attends Job Match event to source and recruit potential candidates. If unable to attend the Job Match event then a selection of candidates will be provided to the employer after the event.
  • Employer selects and recruits candidate and advises Back to Work of decision after the event.
  • Employer issues a contract of employment to the successful candidate.
  • Employer signs incentive agreement with Back to Work and provides a copy of the contract of employment.
  • Back to Work maintains contact with both the employer and employee and provides in work support to employee and employer throughout the period of the role.
  • Employer claims incentive and provides copies of payslips.  
  • Back to Work pays incentive to employer via BACS.
  • Employer confirms if the employee has been released or maintained as an employee at the end of the role.

Legal position of employer

The person in respect of whom the incentive is payable will be an employee of the employer receiving the incentive. The employer will recruit candidates in accordance with their normal contract and terms and conditions. Normal probation and notice periods will apply and the employee will have statutory rights and responsibilities under the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003.

Employee sickness absence or unpaid leave

The employer will recruit candidates in accordance with their normal contract and terms and conditions. Should the employer not pay the employee for a period, e.g. unpaid leave or sickness absence, then the employer will not be able to claim a payment for this period.

Support for employers

It is intended that employees hired under the incentive will be successfully retained for the period of the incentive and also hopefully employed after the incentive period has ended. However, should issues arise, support will be available to employers through the Back to Work team to help the employee overcome any issues. Employers should contact the Back to Work team as soon as any issues arise.

In circumstances where employment cannot be sustained, then the employer will still be able to claim incentive payments for the time the employee has worked within the incentive period.

 

 

Legal Position of the incentive

This is a non-statutory scheme. As such the terms of the JobsFest Employer Incentive can be amended or withdrawn without notice at the discretion of the Minister for Social Security.

It is very much hoped that employers will use the JobsFest Employer Incentive as intended. In particular, it is expected that employers will act in good faith and not release existing staff with the intention of replacing them with new employees under the JobsFest Employer Incentive.

The Minister therefore reserves the right to:

  • Restrict or refuse specific employers from access to this or future schemes.
  • Withhold or cancel interim or final payments to specific employers.
  • Request additional evidence from the employer.
  • Request evidence from the employee.
  • Recover incentive payments incorrectly claimed.
  • Use Social Security contributions data and benefit data to verify claims made under the scheme.

Additionally, circumstances may arise in which an employer claiming a payment under the scheme is being pursued for monies owed to the department. Should this situation arise the Minister reserves the right to offset incentive payments against any monies owed to the department.

As a non-statutory scheme the decision of the Minister for Social Security is final.

 

 

 

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