As the government body entrusted with the efforts of returning job seekers to the world of employment, it has set itself the employment service with the aim of not leaving anyone and anyone behind, and putting everyone in the right answer for them.
"Just as the faces of job seekers are different, so are their employment challenges," says Employment Service CEO Rami Graur. "Every job seeker is characterized by his unique skills, abilities, barriers and opportunities. Thus, the employment service works to provide customized 'suits' for each job seeker according to his or her characteristics, with our guideline being that no one and no one is left behind. Everyone deserves an answer, and we will strive to provide the relevant answer. This is the organizational and value rationale that guides us in the employment service. "
One of the flagship programs of the Employment Service, which implements the organizational and value rationale that Grauer spoke of, is "employment circles."
This is a unique venture of its kind that aims to help bring claimants back into the workforce while providing customized solutions to the map of barriers and challenges for each of them - from barriers to training and skills, through psychological barriers to social barriers and more.
"The number of unemployed has dropped from 120,000 to only 60,000."
"Employment Circles" program, Photo: istock
Income security, as defined by law, is the last safety net that the State of Israel provides to citizens "who do not have the power to guarantee themselves an income for a living."
As part of its welfare policy, the state seeks to allow the existence, even the basic, existence of every citizen.
"Pisces is a critical thing, certainly in such circumstances," says Grauer, "but it is equally important to set fishing rods, that is, the ability to earn a living and a self-sufficient economy, and this is what the employment cycle program focuses on."
Under the plan, income support plaintiffs, as a condition of their pension, are referred to "employment circles" centers where they go through a customized process that begins with mapping barriers and its purpose is to return them to the work circle.
To deal with the barriers, the employment service presents claimants with income support with a wide range of tools - from personal training, strengthening digital skills, soft skills and professional training to support workshops, psychological counseling and exercising rights in front of welfare bodies in Israel.
The purpose, as stated, is to remove one by one the barriers that make it difficult for claimants to secure income and prevent them from securing their living allowance independently and stabilizing them in continuous employment in the labor market.
With the establishment of the program, in 2014, the number of income support claimants stood at 120,000.
In view of the activity of "employment circles", their number dropped to only 60,000 on the eve of the outbreak of the corona crisis in early 2020.
A unique answer for every demand
During the crisis year, the number of income support claimants rose to 80,000, and a study conducted by the Employment Service found that many thousands of them are multi-barrier income support claimants.
Thus, the service has initiated the "Employment Plus" program designed for multi-barrier income assurance plaintiffs who are far from the work circle and are in any case required for more unique and complex responses.
The program began its activity last summer in five centers around the country (Lod, Nazareth, Rahat, Holon and Shefar'am) and by the end of the year, five more centers will be inaugurated.
"Throughout the crisis," says Grauer, "we reiterated that even at the end of the unemployment benefit period, many will find it difficult to return to work and may need social benefits as an income guarantee.
"It must be understood that without the active involvement of the state in returning jobseekers to the employment circle, while providing unique solutions tailored to the personal barriers of each job seeker, those people's chances of returning to work will decrease. .
"This is the essence of employment circles and employment plus in particular, and of employment service programs and efforts in general - active involvement in returning jobseekers to work, and each according to his needs, barriers, challenges and abilities. We do not despair of anyone - there is, should and can be an answer for everyone. "Over the years, employment circles are the convincing proof of this. I call on all job seekers, and in particular income security claimants, to use our services.
Light the spark: from dream to reality
Reuven Edrei, Senior Manager of Income Support in the Employment Service
The corona crisis brought great darkness to our lives, but it also had a spotlight on it that revealed a painful fact that is known to us and has been dealt with by us in the employment service for years: the honey trap of the allowance. Already at the beginning of the crisis, the government decided on sweeping eligibility for all those who were or will be released from the labor force for unemployment benefits until June 2021. In most stages of the crisis this decision saved hundreds of thousands of families, but as time passed and vaccinations became successful. The allowance, even the lowest, the longer it lasts, becomes a honey trap, which seems like an "excellent release of work" but in practice imposes a life of difficulty on those who hang on to it. Over time, the allowance intended to serve as a bridge becomes a connection to the hands and soul of the person involved in it.
The employment circles program seeks to remove this trap, and it is challenging - go and convince yourself that the "honey" is not sweet but disconnecting, that the benefit may render life.
But as great as the challenge is, so great is our belief in the plan and job seekers when the secret to success lies in one small spark that can turn into a big flame and it begins and ends in just one person, in the income assurance claimant alone.
Who among us did not dream of being something when he was little;
Singer, doctor, pharmacist, researcher.
Some of us were privileged to live the dream, some of us only part of it and some of us gave up long ago, maybe even in advance.
"Helping income security claimants identify the spark that burned in them."
Reuven Edrei, Photo: Employment Service Spokeswoman
Employment circles seek to recognize this spark even if there is nothing left of it but an old-fashioned memory, but one that at least in our imagination is a little sweeter than annuity honey.
Through a range of professional tools that work on the axes of motivation, belief in ability, proactivity, vision and purpose and giving the tools we help income security claimants identify the spark, ignite it and turn it into a big and sweeping flame that has the power to remove barriers and return them to independent living.
The element is not only in the belief that a spark can turn into a flame, but also and especially that in all of us there is a spark of the same spark and that even that can and should be ignited.
We do not give up on anyone and anyone, and when this passion and commitment is also awakened in the income assurance plaintiff himself and he also does not give up on himself then the best return to work is really within reach, and it is indeed achieved.
Find us on the Internet: "On the way to work" on the Employment Service website and on the "Israel Today" website and widget
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