People First

People First Employment Advocacy Service (EAS)

People First has a contract with the Ministry of Social Development to provide an employment advocacy service for people with learning disability.

The employment advocacy service will mostly be for people who are working in Business Enterprises.

This will be when workers:

Have to talk about their minimum wage exemptions.
First start to work and they have to sign an Employment Agreement.
When there is a work issue for them that needs resolving.

The service may also be able to work with people who have paid jobs outside of business enterprises.

The service will be run for the first three years by People First. Then in the 4th year People First will be working hard to see that unions are able to take over the work fully by the 5th year.

The EAS will work closely with the unions over the next four years to teach them how best to work with people with learning disability.

We are really excited about this and will make sure that we send out good clear information about the service. We hope to have an Employment Advocate Coordinator starting in early 2009.

In the meantime if you want to know more you can call the People First Disability Information and Advisory Service on 04 381 3242 or 0800 20 60 70.

Some Queries about the EAS?

I don’t really understand what the minimum wage exception is, how will the Employment Advocacy Service (EAS) help me?

When the service is up and running in 2009, we will make sure that information is written in plain language that you will understand. If you can’t understand it, someone else will be able to read it and explain it simply to you.

I couldn’t understand my Employment (work) Agreement, even though I had to sign it!

People are working at the moment on a plain language Work Agreement. It is hoped that this Work Agreement could be used, or adapted, by Business Enterprises so that every worker signed an Agreement that they understood.

What would a Work Advocate do for me?

Here are some of the times when one may be helpful.

There are times at work when we have a disagreement with another worker or with our boss. Sometimes it takes a while to sort out these issues. Sometimes it is helpful to have someone be with us during these talks to help us understand other people’s points of view and to be sure they understand our point of view.
Sometimes we might not understand about sick leave or holiday leave. An advocate can look at your Work Agreement and see that you know and understand about your leave.
When workers have their minimum wage exemption talk at work it is important that they have an advocate with them. If people don’t have family, a friend or someone to be with them, then an advocate can be there for the person.
Sometimes we do have a friend to be with us, but they seem to listen to the boss more than they listen to what we want. In this case you could have an advocate who really listens to you. This does not mean that we always get what we want, but it does mean that you will have been listened to after you have spoken up.
Sometimes people at work feel bullied by another worker. This can be difficult for bosses and an Advocate may help a boss out with this.
When the Government brings in new services for people, for example KiwiSaver, then advocates can make sure every worker knows what that means.

Here is what Work Advocates don’t do

They don’t help us find jobs or get payments for having a job. Workbridge and other Supported Employment Services do that.
Make sure you get more money. Work Advocates make sure that you are heard in a meeting with your boss, but they cannot make sure you get paid more. If they think you are paid too little they will certainly say so.
Make sure you get all the sick leave you want. Bosses usually follow good work law (rules) which says how much sick leave people can get. An advocate can only help to make sure you get the leave the boss must give you, they can’t make a boss give you more than that.
Make sure your boss likes you. Advocates can’t make bosses like everyone. What they can see is that bosses are fair with everyone and that they don’t pick on anyone.