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MISSISSIPPI
[PROGRAM COMPONENTS: TANF WORK ACTIVITES DEFINED]
Revised 08-01-12
On-the-Job Training (OJT) - “Core” Activity On-the-Job Training is defined as paid employment provided by a public or private employer through a contractual arrangement in which the employer provides training and skills essential to perform the job and the employer is reimbursed for the added costs associated with training (the employer is not provided a subsidy for wages paid.) While engaged in productive work, the participant is provided additional daily supervision and training which will provide the knowledge and/or skills essential to fully and adequately perform the job. The participant is compensated at a rate (including benefits) comparable to that of other employees performing the same or similar jobs. The state reimburses the employer up to 50 percent of the wages paid to the participant utilizing WIA funds to offset the cost of training and supervision given to the participant. The employer is expected to retain the participant as a permanent employee at the end of the training period. In Mississippi, OJT is administered by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security through their local WIN Job Centers and/or other sources. The case manager must be knowledgeable about OJT opportunities and coordinate referrals through the local WIN Job Center. If other sources are being utilized, the employer must be willing to provide a written training plan, supervise the participant, and provide weekly attendance and performance reports to the case manager. Wages paid through OJT placements may cause a participant to lose eligibility for TANF benefits. OJT work activities may also include internships, practicums, professional certification, and clinical training required by an academic or training institution for licensure, when the individual is paid by an employer to attend such activities and when they otherwise meet the definition of OJT. TWP participation hours are based on employer reports, check stubs, or other employer-issued documentation verifying the number of hours worked. This includes paid leave and paid holidays. The case manager uses this documentation to determine the participant’s projected work hours for participation and to monitor continued employment.