One City On-the-Job Training Employment Initiative (OJT)

You Hire - You Train - We Pay

The On-the-Job Training (OJT) objective is to assist businesses to provide training in occupations that meet the needs of the employer.  The goal of the OJT Program is to place participants in occupations that will enhance their prospects for long-term employment. It is a “hire-first” program in which the employer enters into an agreement with DOES to hire, train, and retain the individual upon successful completion of the training program. Through this program, businesses may be reimbursed 90% of the new employee’s wages while they are in training (up to 6 months).

Quick Facts about OJT:

•    Participants receive no less than the District’s minimum wage ($8.25/hour)

•    Training participants must be unemployed

•    Employers must be established businesses (in good standing w/ the District)

•    Participating employers receive a reimbursement to cover the extraordinary costs of training and supervision as well as to compensate for expected lower productivity of the trainee vs. a more experienced employee

Employer Benefits:

•    Monthly reimbursement – 90% of trainee's hourly wage

•    Salary must be commensurate with the average wage of that particular position according to the District of Columbia’s Occupational  Employment and Wage Estimates Data/ prevailing wages

•    Employer makes all hiring decisions

•    Employers save recruiting, screening, and training costs

•    Length of training is negotiable

•    OJT trainees are treated like regular employees

Additional Info:

•    Jobs must be permanent and full-time

•    Employers must have Workers’ Compensation or approved on-site accident insurance

•    Training agreement must be approved before trainees begin to work

•    Employer must provide a wage of at least $8.25/hour up to $34/hour ($8,000 maximum for paid training)

•    Employer must retain OJT employee for at least 6 months after completion of training

•    Trainees abide by the same company policies as other employees (and receive same benefits as employees in similar positions)

•    Employer will be monitored by the OJT Team

Exclusions:

•     Applicant cannot be related to owner or supervisor of firm

•     Applicant cannot be hired by former employer*

•     Jobs depending on a commission only as the primary source of income, i.e., insurance sales (not eligible)

•     State and Federal jobs (not eligible)

•     Intermittent seasonal occupations (not eligible)

•     Contract assignments - Any occupation (not eligible)

*Case-by-case basis: Timeframe must be at least 3 months or more to rehire

To learn more about OJT and the benefits to your company, please telephone at (202) 698-5146 or contact us via e-mail at does.ojt-initiative@dc.gov.