ACCESS TO SUCCESS – EMPLOYERS

Youth Employment Placement Partnership

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The John Howard Society of Niagara delivers Access to Success, an employment program supporting youth and young adults across the Niagara Region aged 15–30 who are experiencing barriers to employment.

Participants complete 3 weeks of in-person pre-employment workshops:

Monday to Friday
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
25 hours per week

During this time, participants may earn key certifications including:

First Aid & CPR
Smart Serve
Food Safety
WHMIS
Health and Safety in 4 Steps

Following successful completion of the pre-employment component, participants transition into a supported job placement with a local employer.

We are seeking employers across the Niagara Region who are interested in hosting one or more youth placements. Our goal is to ensure the placement is beneficial for your business, the youth, and our organization through ongoing collaboration and support.

WHO THE PROGRAM IS FOR

This program is ideal for:

Employers across the Niagara Region
Businesses seeking entry-level employees
Organizations open to mentoring youth
Employers interested in strengthening their workforce
Businesses looking to make a positive impact in their community

PLACEMENT DETAILS

Typically 10 weeks in length
Up to 30 hours per week (300 total hours)

If required hours are not completed within 10 weeks, placements may be extended (with employer agreement) until 300 hours are completed.

WAGE REIMBURSEMENT

Wages are paid directly by the employer.

The John Howard Society of Niagara reimburses the employer for hours worked (up to 30 hours per week) at $17.60 per hour plus 4% vacation pay.

Reimbursements are processed upon receipt of paystubs and can follow your preferred schedule (weekly, biweekly, or monthly).

WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN EXPECT

Pre-screened participants who have completed employability training
Participants working toward or holding workplace certifications
Ongoing support from Employment Counsellors throughout the placement

EMPLOYER MANDATORY COSTS (MERCS)

Employers are responsible for standard employer costs such as CPP and EI, consistent across industries. WSIB rates vary by industry. Employer Health Tax (EHT) applies only if your organization has payroll exceeding $1,000,000 annually.

The following estimates are based on a wage of $17.60 per hour:

Vacation Pay – 4% – approximately $0.70 per hour
CPP – 5.95% – approximately $1.05 per hour
EI – 2.30% – approximately $0.40 per hour
WSIB* – 0.095% – approximately $0.02 per hour
EHT** – 1.95% – approximately $0.34 per hour

*WSIB rates vary by industry classification.
**EHT applies only to employers with annual payroll exceeding $1,000,000.

OUR GOAL

To provide a structured, supportive employment experience that benefits:

Your business
The youth participant
The John Howard Society of Niagara

Through collaboration, accountability, and ongoing support.

INTERESTED IN PARTNERING?

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how this partnership can support your workforce needs while helping local youth gain valuable employment experience.

Please complete the Employer Registration Form below, and a member of our team will contact you to discuss next steps.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For immediate inquiries, please contact:

Keri Young
kyoung@jhs-niagara.ca
905-682-2657 ext. 262
289-407-7059