IndustrialOccupational Social Work Practice

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Chapter 14 The Inclusive Workplace Level
IIInclusion Through State-National
Collaborations

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Inclusion Through State-National Collaborations

• Level III Inclusion
• refers to the values that drive organizational
  policies with regard to disadvantaged populations
  such as welfare recipients, domestic violence
  victims, and youth in distress
• reflects the mezzo/macro, national-system level
  of the state or the federal government where
  appropriate

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Inclusion Through State-National Collaborations
Box 14.1. The Inclusive Work Place The Value
Base for Level III Inclusion through Through
State/National Collaborations
Value Frame
System Level
Exclusion
Inclusion
Treating disadvantaged groups as a potentially
stable, upwardly mobile employees and investing
in their education and training.
State, Federal Government
Treating Viewing disadvantaged groups as the
domain of welfare agencies and charity
organizations and treating them as disposable
labor.
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Inclusion Through State-National Collaborations
Figure 14.2.   The Inclusive Workplace Model
Obstacles and Benefits for Level III Inclusion
Through State/National Collaborations
Benefits
Barriers
Individuals
Organization

• Limited company vision (short-sighted and
  internally- focused)
• Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination of
  against disadvantaged population groups

• Employment, benefits
• Job training
• Advancement opportunities
• Improved job prospects

• Expanded potential employee pool
• Increased employee loyalty
• Improved customer relations
• A more attractive value-based corporate image

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Level III Case IllustrationEurest

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Level III Case Illustration Eurest Inc.
History of Aboriginals

• The Aboriginals have endured many disadvantages
  since Britain first colonized Australia in 1788
  (reduced population due to disease and warfare,
  the stripping of their land rights and limited
  legal protection.
• Past laws, which were designed to protect the
  Aborigines, created more problems than they
  solved, such as the forced separation of families
  to protect the children. However, progress was
  made in the 1900s when Australia granted
  citizenship to Aboriginals in 1967.
• Even though the Aboriginal population rebounded
  in the late 1990s, they represented a
  significantly higher proportion of the
  unemployed. Hence, the Indigenous Employment
  Plan. This plan was composed of several key
  areas
• corporate leaders project,
• wage assistance structured training and
  employment projects,
• national indigenous cadetship project,
• indigenous small business fund,
• community development employment projects
  placement incentive, and voluntary service to
  indigenous communities.

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Level III Case Illustration Eurest Inc.
Eurest Indigenous Training and Employment Program
(ITEP)

• Eurest was one of the first businesses to begin
  working with the Australian government to promote
  employment opportunities for their indigenous
  population. Eurest's ITEP teaches new work
  skills, integrated with consultation and mutual
  understanding of local communities.
• The result of Eurest's efforts is not only
  greater employment opportunities for Australia's
  indigenous population, but also the receipt of
  many accolades.  
• Nonetheless, controversy continues for Australia
  regarding its interactions with the Aboriginal
  people

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Level III Case Illustration Eurest Inc.
Questions for Discussion and Further Analysis

• What impact might the government's subsidization
  of Aborigines' employment have in the short term?
  Long term?
• Does the fact that Eurest receives money for
  training and hiring indigenous employees impact
  the perceived value of Eurest's action? Why or
  why not?
• How might Eurest's Aborigines Employment Plan
  impact customer perceptions of Eurest? How might
  it impact employee morale?
• Eurest's ITEP includes two key elements not
  specifically addressed in the government's plan
  the gradual introduction of indigenous employees
  to the workplace and a dedicated ITEP manager.
  Why do you think Eurest added these elements?
  What benefits might they offer? What problems
  might they create? If you were consulting for
  Eurest, would you recommend that they keep or
  eliminate these two elements? Why?
• If, during a press interview, Eurest were asked
  for their position regarding the continuing
  Aboriginal controversies, how would you recommend
  that they respond? What impact might your
  recommendation have on Eurest's employees,
  customers, and business and government partners?