Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-93.7

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 441-93.7 - Work activities

Work activities include full-time employment, part-time employment, self-employment, on-the-job training, work experience placement, and unpaid community service. The participant and the PROMISE JOBS worker shall incorporate into the FIA employment activities that are appropriate for the work history, skill level, and life circumstances of the participant. If the FIA activity is so hazardous that safety glasses, hard hats, or other safety equipment is needed, participation shall not be arranged or approved unless these safety precautions are available.

(1)Full-time or part-time employment. FIAs may include full-time employment or part-time employment. Employment that does not lead to economic self-sufficiency may be included in the FIA only if the employment situation leads to better employment opportunities through building work skills and work history. See subrule 93.7(2) for additional policies applicable to self-employment.

a.Full-time employment. The goal for all participants is to participate in full-time employment. "Full-time employment" is defined as being employed an average of 30 or more hours per week.

(1) Persons who have not achieved self-sufficiency through full-time employment before the end date of the FIA may have the FIA extended.

(2) Persons who choose not to enter into the renegotiation process to extend the FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

b.Part-time employment. Part-time employment is defined as being employed an average of less than 30 hours per week. An FIA that includes part-time employment shall also include participation in other PROMISE JOBS activities, including additional part-time employment, unless barriers to participation exist as defined in rule 441-93.14 (239B) and subrule 93.4(5).

c.Supportive payments allowed. Transportation expenses are not paid through PROMISE JOBS but are covered by FIP earned income deductions. Child care assistance shall be provided as described at rule 441-93.11 (239B) when needed for employment.

d. Verification of employment hours. Participants must provide verification of employment hours as described at subrule 93.10(2).

e.Failure to provide verification. Failure to provide verification of work hours after receiving a written reminder letter will result in a limited benefit plan.

f.Failure to maintain employment. A participant who without good cause does not maintain employment as identified in the FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

(2)Self-employment.

a.Calculation of hours. Hours of participation for persons who are self-employed shall be calculated using actual gross income less business expenses divided by the federal minimum wage. PROMISE JOBS shall use the same income as used for FIP eligibility and benefits.

(1) Participants with self-employment income that equates to 30 or more hours per week are considered to be working full-time.

(2) Participants with self-employment income that equates to less than 30 hours per week are considered to be working part-time.

b.Review of participation. The PROMISE JOBS worker shall review calculated hours:

(1) When income changes, or

(2) At least once every six months.

c.Progress toward self-sufficiency. At the participant's FIA review, the participant's progress is determined by noting incremental increases in income and calculated work hours. In order to maintain self-employment as the only FIA activity, participants must:

(1) Reach full-time employment as defined in subparagraph 93.7(2)"a"(1), or

(2) Show progress toward self-sufficiency.

d.Requiring other FIA activities. When a participant has been self-employed for more than 12 months and has not shown progress toward self-sufficiency, the FIA shall include the part-time self-employment in combination with participation in other PROMISE JOBS activities, unless barriers to participation exist as defined in subrule 93.4(5) and rule 441-93.14 (239B).

(1) The other activities could include additional part-time employment.

(2) When the determination that a participant has not shown progress toward self-sufficiency is made after the initial FIA is developed, the FIA shall be renegotiated to include the other PROMISE JOBS activities. Participants who choose not to enter into the FIA renegotiation process shall enter into a limited benefit plan as described in 441-subrule 41.24(8). Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

e.Supportive payments allowed. Transportation expenses are not paid through PROMISE JOBS but are covered by FIP earned income deductions. Child care assistance shall be provided as described at subrule 93.11(2) when needed for participation in self-employment.

f.Documenting participation. Hours of participation in self-employment shall be calculated as specified in paragraph 93.7(2)"a" and documented in the case file. Participant documentation shall be provided as described at subrule 93.10(2).

g.Failure to maintain employment. Participants who without good cause do not maintain employment as identified in their FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

(3)On-the-job training.

a.Definition. "On-the-job training" is defined as training in the public or private sector that:

(1) Is given to a paid employee while the employee is engaged in productive work, and

(2) Provides knowledge and skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job.

b.Supportive payments. Transportation for on-the-job training is treated in the same manner as transportation for employment. Expenses are not paid through PROMISE JOBS but are covered by FIP earned income deductions. Child care assistance shall be provided as described at subrule 93.11(2) when needed for participation in on-the-job training.

c.Documenting participation. Documentation of participation shall be provided as described at subrule 93.10(2).

d.Failure to participate in on-the-job training. Participants who without good cause do not participate in on-the-job training as identified in their FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

(4)Work experience program. Work experience sites shall provide participants with work experience and on-the-job training opportunities.

a.Sponsors. Employers who participate in the work experience program are referred to as sponsors. Work experience sponsors may be public sector, private sector, community-based, faith-based, or nonprofit employers.

(1) Participants may be placed at work sites with religious institutions only when the work performed is nonsectarian and not in support of sectarian activities.

(2) Participants may not be used to replace regular employees in the performance of nonsectarian work for the purpose of enabling regular employees to engage in sectarian activities.

(3) Each work experience program sponsor shall provide to the PROMISE JOBS service provider a copy of the sponsor's safety rules before participants are referred for work site placement.

b.Positions. To request a work experience placement, the sponsor shall complete Form 470-0809, Sponsor's Request for Work Experience (WEP) Participant, for each type of position the sponsor wishes to fill. The request shall include a complete job description that specifies all tasks to be performed by the participant. PROMISE JOBS has final authority to determine suitability of any work experience position offered by a sponsor. Work experience positions:

(1) Must contain the same job description and performance requirements that would exist if the sponsor were hiring an employee for the same position;

(2) Shall not be related to political, electoral, or partisan activities;

(3) Shall not be developed in response to or in any way be associated with the existence of a strike, lockout, or other bona fide labor dispute;

(4) Shall not violate any existing labor agreement between employees and employers;

(5) Shall comply with applicable state and federal health and safety standards;

(6) Shall not be used by sponsors to displace current employees or to infringe on the promotional opportunities of current employees;

(7) Shall not be used in place of hiring staff for established vacant positions; and

(8) Shall not result in placement of a participant in a position when any other person is on layoff from the same or an equivalent position in the same unit.

c.Participant selection. A participant's vocational skills and interests shall be matched as closely as possible with the job description and skills required by the sponsor.

(1) Participant responsibility. Participants shall interview for and accept positions offered by work experience sponsors. Participants shall present Form 470-0810, Referral for Work Experience (WEP) Placement, to the sponsor at the interview. The form shall be completed by the sponsor and returned to PROMISE JOBS.

(2) Sponsor responsibility. Although sponsors are expected to accept work experience referrals made by PROMISE JOBS, sponsors may refuse any referrals they deem inappropriate for the available position. Sponsors shall not discriminate against any program participant because of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, or national origin. Sponsors who refuse a referral must notify PROMISE JOBS in writing of the reason for the refusal.

d.Hours of participation. When a participant is involved in work experience that is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the participant cannot be required to work more hours than the amount of the monthly FIP grant divided by federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher. Exception: To determine the maximum hours that can be required of a single-parent family on FIP with a child under the age of six, add the value of the family's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to the FIP grant amount before dividing by the minimum wage.

(1) A participant cannot be required to work more hours than those calculated under paragraph 93.7(4)"d." Only hours up to or less than that calculation can be included in the participant's FIA.

(2) If two or more members of the same household participate in work experience, the total required hours of participation of the household cannot exceed the hours calculated according to paragraph 93.7(4)"d."

(3) Each work experience assignment shall not exceed six months in duration.

e.Participant performance evaluations.

(1) Monthly evaluations. Sponsors shall complete a monthly evaluation of the participant's performance using Form 470-0805, Work Experience Participant Evaluation, and provide a copy to PROMISE JOBS and to the participant.

(2) Final evaluations. Sponsors shall complete Form 470-0805, Work Experience Participant Evaluation, at the time of termination for each work experience participant. When termination occurs at the sponsor's request, the sponsor shall specify the reason for termination and identify those areas of unsatisfactory performance. For participants who leave to accept regular employment or reach their work experience placement time limit, the sponsor's evaluation shall indicate whether or not a positive job reference would be provided if the participant requested one.

f.Supportive payments for work experience placements.

(1) Child care and transportation. Child care assistance and transportation payments shall be provided as described at rule 441-93.11 (239B) when needed for participation in work experience.

(2) Required clothing and equipment. A participant may receive up to a limit of $100 per work-site assignment for clothing or equipment if required by the work experience site and not covered by the sponsor.

(3) Workers' compensation. The department of human services shall provide workers' compensation coverage for all PROMISE JOBS work experience participants.

g.Documenting participation. Documentation of participation shall be provided as described at subrule 93.10(2).

h.Completion of work experience. Persons who complete a work experience assignment may move to another activity as provided under the FIA, be assigned to a different work site, or be reassigned to the same work site, whichever is appropriate under the FIA.

i.Failure to participate in work experience. A participant who without good cause does not participate in work experience as identified in the FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

(5)Unpaid community service. Unpaid community service shall provide participants with opportunities to establish or reestablish contact with the workforce while providing services that are of direct benefit to the community.

a.Work sites. Unpaid community service work sites shall be public or private nonprofit organizations. The PROMISE JOBS provider agencies shall provide community service work sites a written explanation of the following placement criteria. The placement:

(1) Shall comply with applicable state and federal health and safety standards;

(2) Shall not be related to political, electoral or partisan activities;

(3) Shall not be developed in response to or in any way associated with the existence of a strike, lockout, or other bona fide labor dispute;

(4) Shall not violate any existing labor agreement between employees and employers;

(5) Shall not be used to displace current employees or to infringe on their promotional opportunities;

(6) Shall not be used in place of hiring staff for established vacant positions; and

(7) Shall not result in placement of a participant in a position when any other person is on layoff from the same or an equivalent position in the same unit.

b.Locating the work site. The PROMISE JOBS provider agencies shall develop local listings of potential unpaid community service work sites. When a participant and the PROMISE JOBS worker agree that an unpaid community service placement is appropriate, the participant is responsible for locating and making arrangements with the work site. Formal interviews are not required to establish the relationship between the participant and the work site organization.

c.Length of assignment and weekly hours. The length of the work site assignment and the weekly hours of participation shall be determined through agreement among the work-site organization, the participant, and the PROMISE JOBS worker. When a participant is involved in community service that is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the participant cannot be required to work more hours than the amount of the participant's monthly FIP grant divided by federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher. Only hours up to or less than the maximum calculated may be included in the participant's FIA. Exceptions are as follows:

(1) For a participant who is a single parent with a child under the age of six, the maximum hours that can be required are determined by adding the value of the participant's SNAP to the FIP grant amount before dividing by the minimum wage.

(2) Participants who are court-ordered to do community service shall work the number of hours required by the court.

e. Supportive payments. Child care assistance and a transportation payment for each month of participation or part thereof shall be paid as described at rule 441-93.11 (239B) when needed for participation in unpaid community service.

f. Documenting participation. Documentation of participation shall be provided as described at subrule 93.10(2).

g.Failure to complete unpaid community service. Participants who without good cause do not participate in unpaid community service as specified in their FIA shall be considered to have chosen the limited benefit plan. Procedures at subrule 93.4(5) and rules 441-93.13 (239B) and 441-93.14 (239B) shall apply.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-93.7

Adopted by IAB October 29, 2014/Volume XXXVII, Number 9, effective 1/1/2015

Amended by IAB November 2, 2022/Volume XLV, Number 9, effective 1/1/2023