Working Together – Expanding Maine’s Workforce


Results of Member Survey – spring 2008

april 2, 2008 (16 responses)

Name – 88% identified their name and their business


1. Do you consider you/your business as a member of the Working Together – Expanding Maine's Workforce initiative?

  • 75 % - Yes, I/my company signed the Pledge
  • 19 % - Yes, but I/my company did not sign the pledge yet
  • 6 % - No, but I intend to join

2. Did you attend the First Working Together Symposium in Hallowell last October?

  • 63 % - Yes
  • 37 % - No

3. Do you think that the current downturn in Maine's economy will affect your interest in or participation with the Working Together group?

  • 25 % - Yes
  • 63 % - No
  • 12 % - Not sure/Maybe

4. How should the Working Together member businesses make decisions regarding what the group does?

  • 63 % - A small committee of business members should meet periodically to make strategic and operational decisions about the group
  • 50 % - Periodic votes to the members by mail and email
  • 6 % - Other

5. How would you like to receive information about hiring and retaining workers with disabilities (circle all letters that apply)

  • 38 % - I’ll contact Working Together when I have a need for information and technical assistance
  • 31 % - Place business requests and assistance in a Q and A format on the web site
  • 63 % - Periodic newsletter should be sent providing updates on recent Questions and Answers, helpful resources, and upcoming events.
  • 19 % - Other

6. Do you plan to attend the Second Working Together Symposium on October 30, 2008 in Freeport, Maine?

  • 75 % - Yes, send me registration information!
  • 6 % - No
  • 19 % - Send me more info

7. Please give us up to three questions, or statements, that you have regarding your experience or concerns in hiring workers with disabilities.

  • I. – 63% offered one question or statement
  • II. – 38% offered a second question or statement
  • III. – 25% offered a third question or statement

Questions/Requests/Concerns:
  • How does a small business actively recruit or "find" disabled workers?
  • How much financial/business help is available from the State or other sources to ease the transition?
  • Concerns that there are little to no State programs available anymore i.e., voc rehab, training assistance…..
  • What are the best resources to supply qualified workers with disabilities?
  • How do employers train those working with the disabled to be sensitive?
  • How do employers handle mental disability? Different or the same as physical?
  • Do you have a mentor program in place?
  • Do you provide internships?
  • Depending on the disability, do you provide education for the employers?
  • Want more information on community causes!
  • When will we meet and learn more?
  • What are best practices for hiring?
  • Are different procedures needed for terminating a worker with disabilities compared to other workers?
  • How can I justify spending more money to employ someone with lower productivity - when I know we can't afford it?

Statements:
  • Our experience has been very positive
  • Right thing to do
  • Always easier to assimilate someone with a disability that you thought it would be
  • It's easier than you think!
  • The only negative experience we have ever had is when we work with an agency that misrepresents the skill level of the person.
  • If we hire someone who need a job coach we expect the employee to do the job, not the job coach