TEXAS BACK-TO-WORK INITIATIVE

Employer Guidelines

1.Eligible Employers
•Must be a private for-profit employer doing business in Travis County – temporary employment or placement agencies are not eligible to participate.
•Must have a registered UI Account with the Texas Workforce Commission.
•Must not currently have employees in a lay-off status for the same or similar position for which a TBTW participant would be hired.
•Must be current in all federal and state tax obligations.
•Must not be debarred or suspended from receiving state or federal funds.
•Must complete and sign a TBTW Worksite Agreement for each eligible participant hired.

2.Eligible Occupations
•Jobs which provide at least 30 hours of employment per week at a wage of $10.50 per hour or greater (no commission or piece work jobs) and shall not be at a wage that is less than or greater than that paid to a regular employee in the same or similar position with the same level of experience and training.
•Jobs may NOT be seasonal or temporary, including contract workers.

3.Eligible Participants
•Must be current recipients of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.
•Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.
•Last job prior to receiving UI benefits paid $15 per hour or less.
•Must be certified eligible for the TBTW Initiative and referred to the employer by Workforce Solutions - Capital Area.

4.Retention Period and Bonus Payment
•Participants hired under the TBTW Initiative must be retained by the employer for at least one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days from employment start date.
•For each eligible TBTW participant hired and retained for at least 120 days by the employer, Workforce Solutions - Capital Area shall pay the employer a $2,000 wage retention subsidy upon submission of required documentation.
•Retention payment will be considered to be earned on a monthly basis at $500 per month for each month of the 4 month (120 day) retention period and will be paid in one payment upon completion of the retention period.
•Employer must submit verification of hours worked and wages paid for TBTW participants to Workforce Solutions - Capital Area during the 120 day retention period.

Read the TBTW Worksite Agreement for terms and conditions
All inquires should be directed to 512.485.3790.