With its new ALTHER service, UPE 06 helps companies advance their actions in favor of disability.
Since February 2010, UPE 06, in partnership with Agefiph, has been offering a new service for companies in the Alpes-Maritimes: Alther. Its goal is to inform, advise, and support companies in implementing tailored solutions to meet their obligation to employ people with disabilities.
UPE 06’s ALTHER service intervenes at different levels to help companies implement concrete actions: For recruitment: expanding and diversifying sourcing, mobilizing all departmental partners, coordinating the various actors who can propose candidates, helping to obtain financial assistance from Agefiph…
To enrich companies’ relationships with the protected and adapted sector and enable them to reduce up to 50% of their annual contribution: UPE 06 can assist companies in connecting with the ESATs and Adapted Companies in the department, which will present their numerous service offerings in line with company needs (catering service for their meetings, maintaining green spaces, creating communication materials, providing staff, etc.).
To enable the hosting of people with disabilities for internships or apprenticeship contracts: Alther mobilizes the various actors in the department and all the Agefiph assistance to meet companies’ HR needs while professionalizing individuals with disabilities!
A free service for all companies in the Alpes-Maritimes
With ALTHER, companies can benefit from an advisory platform accessible by phone to answer all questions regarding the law of February 11, 2005, on “equality of rights and opportunities, the participation and citizenship of people with disabilities.”
Audrey Lambert, in charge of this service at UPE 06, responds to all requests and meets with company managers to analyze the situation and provide recommendations, as well as accompany the implementation of these actions, which can last up to 12 months.
Outcome of actions carried out in 2010
During 2010, more than 200 companies were contacted by phone and mail. The information was organized through UPE 06 newsletters, a special section on the upe06.com site, and participation in 7 events in the department: fairs/employment forums.
The ALTHER service is present in UPE 06’s Health, Employment Training, and Sustainable Economic Development committees, which also relay information to companies participating in their actions.
53 diagnostics were conducted in companies, most of which are in the accompanying phase. Finally, 15 apprenticeship contracts were signed following these diagnostics, and seven internships were organized in companies.
The ALTHER service relied on some subcontractors for certain diagnostics: Handyjob, the bearer of the Cap Emploi 06 and Sameth 06 services, firmly established in the local business network.
The 6 responses to the law
A company can respond to the Obligation to Employ Disabled Workers in six ways:
- by hiring disabled workers under a work contract or an apprenticeship contract
- welcoming interns (minimum 40 hours) up to 2% of the company’s workforce
- retention of employees within the company
- subcontracting with the protected sector (covering up to 50% of the maximum obligation)
- establishing a branch, company, or establishment agreement
- making a financial contribution to AGEFIPH
Focus on apprenticeship
Training is a crucial factor in the paths to employment and job retention for people with disabilities. Indeed, these individuals are more often led to retrain and undergo professional mobility than others. On their side, companies experience difficulties in recruiting and finding the skills they seek on the labor market.
The ALTHER service works to raise awareness among companies of the benefits of hiring a disabled person through a professionalization contract: skills adaptation of the candidate to the workplace, financial aids (OPCA and AGEFIPH), and tutoring funding. Additionally, they are relieved from the burden of assembling the apprenticeship file and benefit from support throughout the integration process by UPE 06 partners (Cap Emploi, OPCALIA).
Moreover, there are many advantages for the candidate: besides acquiring a recognized qualification, an adapted work position and schedule specifically tailored, they can also benefit from AGEFIPH financial aids under certain conditions: bonuses, subsidies, mobility assistance, technical and human aids depending on the situation.
