POTTSVILLE — The labor shortage facing many industries has proven particularly troubling for social service agencies and direct care service providers.
In search of solutions, a group of about 40 people representing various regional and state organizations met virtually Tuesday.
Joseph Salem Jr., administrative entity manager for Service Access & Management Inc., which hosted the session, said the “crisis” is greatly affecting the people these agencies serve.
“Basically we have everybody from the county from residential, day programs, in-home programs, and they’re really hurting with staffing right now in the group home and life-sharing setting,” he told the group. SAM is headquartered in Reading and has offices in Pottsville and throughout the state.
Janice Knowlton, Access Services vice president of autism and intellectual disability services, said it has been a difficult time.
“We’re getting applicants, but they’re really poor with no experience, which sometimes is OK, but they don’t even meet minimum threshold for us,” Knowlton said. “We’re still struggling.”
“We have a similar story,” said Tim Sohosky, chief operating officer for The ReDCo Group Inc. “Things really haven’t improved since the last time this group got together (on May 25). We just continue to struggle along, not really seeing many applicants across the board.”
Avenues Employment and Vocational Program Manager Patty Schultz said her agency has seven open positions and “no luck” attracting any applicants.
“We’re stuck as well,” she said.
David Study, human resources specialist and corporate recruiter at Community Services Group, said he’s had some applicants, “but they’re falling by the wayside as we get them through the interview process.”
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Member Relations Director Samantha Chivinski asked for input as to whether the managers believe it could be related to the supplemental unemployment benefit or lack of child care.
Advice on attracting workers
Rebecca Reynolds, regional classified manager for Times-Shamrock Communications, which owns the Republican Herald and Standard-Speaker, said difficulty finding employees is across the board.
“I have a $60,000-a-year position open that I’m struggling to fill,” she said. “It doesn’t even matter if it’s entry level or even on the higher end, the struggle is certainly real for all types of positions.”
That has led to companies offering incentives, such as sign-on bonuses at restaurants.
“That is something that I have never seen before,” Reynolds said.
She said a driving factor she’s heard about is that people want to be happy in their jobs.
“Nowadays it’s certainly not only about the money. People are looking to make sure they have that work-life balance,” she said. “There is no silver bullet to getting everybody back in the workforce, but there certainly are multiple variables working.”
Variables are child care, financial strain, wages, work schedules that include flexibility and the extra $300 unemployment compensation payments through the CARES Act, which end Sept. 4.
Aimee Eckley, director of interactive media for the Republican Herald, said there are companies offering $5,000 sign-on bonuses and $40 per hour starting rates who can’t find workers.
In addressing the need, “What we are doing on the digital side is very client-specific,” she said. “People who are looking for jobs are being targeted through email marketing involving geography and on their interests,” and companies are pushing their perks.
She advised companies use the social media and websites that their potential hires are using “to make them more likely to respond to your ads.”
Radio was represented by Charles “Chaz” Hepler, marketing consultant and radio personality for WPPA/T-102 in Pottsville.
“I agree that you do need the mix in the advertising base. You just don’t focus on just one area,” Hepler said. “When the advertising message comes out looking for employees, it needs to be based on we want you to come and join us. Work with us and what all we have to offer.”
Hepler, noting he was in the human services field for a long time, said employers need to sell the fact that workers can touch lives.
“There is such a competitive market in Schuylkill County because the human services field is so tapped; there are a lot of people in need that you try to work with every single day,” he said. “What sets you apart from each other are the clients you deal with, and that kind of stuff should be part of that message to attract people.”
Also speaking were Kate Zimmerman, Penn State University director of cooperative education; Kristie Ondisco, SafeInHome account executive; Alexandra Southworth-Molchan, director, People Strategies & Development; Brennan Beltz, human resources strategic partner for the Community Wellness and Support Services Program service line; and Marie Craven from the Office of Developmental Programs of the state Department of Human Services.
Salem, who said the workgroup will probably meet again in September, thought the webinar was beneficial in that people heard about potential resources from throughout the county. Some participants reached out to say thank you.
He was contacted Wednesday by CareerLink in Schuylkill County, which was not able to participate in the webinar but encouraged agencies in need to take part in its job and education fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 11 at Fairlane Village mall.
Families taxed, too
Salem detailed some of the impact on agencies and their clients.
“I know that in some cases, upper management and specialists sometimes have to fill in at houses,” he said Wednesday. “In the group homes there may be a lot of open shifts.”
When existing staff has to fill in service gaps, they can end up with their own personal burdens because of working so many extra hours.
“It’s also hard on the agency with the overtime, which is another issue,” Salem said.
A shortage of caseworkers visiting homes can affect family members and others help provide care. Some clients may not have as many opportunities to be taken into the community for various activities, for example.
“The families in the natural support system are doing extra work,” Salem said. “In some cases, some homes have only one staff member to help when they normally would have two.”
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Labor shortage taxes direct care providers - Standard Speaker
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