HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 23Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 8, 2009
An Adjustment Advisory Program, introduced to the
company by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities
and funded by Employment Ontario and Volvo was
launched immediately after the company announced
relocation plans. Karin Mabon has bee the driving
force behind the Action Centre at Volvo that helps
employees upgrade skills, resumes and coordinates a
series of workshops and training programs. Brian
Cooper, Mabon, Brenda Powell and Amanda Wright of
Human Resources check out the availability of jobs.
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Action Centre provides training and hope
When Volvo Construction Equipment announced that
it was moving its motor grader manufacturing activities
to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania over an 18 -month period,
a comprehensive Adjustment Advisory Program sprang
into action almost immediately.
Since the announcement of the relocation of grader
manufacturing, employees at Volvo's Maitland Road
facility have been able to access a litany of training pro-
grams from learning the basics of resume writing and
interviewing skills to comprehensive welding and lead-
ership development programs.
In short, employees leaving Volvo Motor Graders are
heading into the workforce with valuable skills training.
Following the company's relocation announcement,
June Ferguson of the Ministry of Training Colleges and
Universities (MTCU) arrived at Volvo to introduce the
company to the Adjustment Advisory Program funded
by Employment Ontario with additional funding and re-
sources supplied by Volvo.
The main engine of the program is the Adjustment Ad-
visory .Committee made up Volvo employees and two
MTCU representitives and their mandate was to deter-
mine the training required by the workforce and then to
ensure those services were made available to the em-
ployees.
A 32 -year employee with 15 years of human resources
experience, Karin Mabon was an easy choice to embrace
and coordinate the committee activities. After extensive
employee neels assessments the committee determined
the workforce required resume writing assistance as well
as updates on interviewing skills and workshops dealing
with the challenge of career exploration.
The Action Centre, located inside the main entrance
to the manufacturing floor, was soon laden with new
computers and resource materials courtesy of Volvo and
valuable job training and career counseling was made
available. The Action Centre has more than lived up to
its name and has become a centre of hope and future
possibilities.
"I know all the people here and love them. It's tough
some days," she said. "Some people can't find a job
but you help them and they help each other. In the last
six months the employees have been involved in more
learning than ever before and they have risen to the oc-
casion."
The committee has been able to assist employees to
access the services available to help them gain employ-
ment; enabled employees to learn about new vocational
or training directions that may lead to employment and
finally, the committee has ensured that employees and
their families receive the necessary support to cope with
a period of unemployment.
An important link in the transition was the Return to
Work Action Plan interview conducted by case manag-
ers for Huron Business Development Corporation with
all 525 employees, who gained information on availabil-
ity of programs and educational courses.
"The assets that are available in the community are
phenomenal and we will use every inch of it," Mabon
said.
The committee has also worked with employment On-
tario service providers; Huron Business Development
Corporation, Armstrong Hayes and Associates and Avon
Maitland District School Board to deliver workshops
and access the support required found locally at the Cen-
tre for Employment and Learning on East Street.
The Action Centre and adjustment program will re-
main in place until Dec. 31, 2009 and even though line
employees are gone, workshops dealing with money
matters and budgeting and the Healing Journey through
Job loss, will be offered for workers and spouses at the
Legion throughout July and August.
It's been difficult for Mabon to see her friends and col-
leagues worry over job loss and the frustration of finding
employment. But she won't rest until she finds a job, or
at least a lead, for every one of her Volvo friends.
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I~ SIGN G r P R I M C, 0 E Y
Volvo
MI of us at C1odeAch PNS Shop would like
to say THAI%YOU to VOLVO & Its employees mployees
for all your Means of Community Support