Program FAQs

• The employer will have to be both eligible and suitable for the program (outlined above)
• The employer will be required to complete the Employer Registration Form, complete a health and safety checklist with your Employment Advisor, and complete a training plan with your Employment Advisor.
• Your Employment Advisor will notify LEAP clients who may be interested in working for your business/organization and can arrange interviews on your behalf. If you decide you would like to proceed with the individual you interviewed, an Employment Advisor will contact you to complete the forms mentioned above.
• You are required to complete the job support and training for the individual as per contract duties and training plan, provide LEAP with feedback regarding the individual in the form of regular follow ups, follow OHSA regulations, and remit payroll information in a timely manner.

• It can be both. Employers who are in the trades may do a placement with an individual who is interested in becoming an apprentice. If the employer chooses to register them as an apprentice with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, there are additional incentive bonuses (see AESB).
• A placement is simply on the job training and support for a client and the employer. The client is placed on your payroll as a regular employee. The employer will remit payroll to LEAP and the employer will then be reimbursed based on their placement contract. Your Employment Advisor will have scheduled monitors with both the employer and client to ensure things are running smoothly or address any issues that may arise.

• Employers may be eligible to receive up to $6000 in training incentives when they hire a LEAP client for individuals who are suitable and who qualify. Each placement incentive amount is negotiated with the employer prior to contract signing.
• Employers who are able to register apprentices may also be eligible for the Apprenticeship Employer Signing Bonus (AESB) which is $2000 of additional incentives. Contact LEAP for further information.

• To participate in placements, employers must:
  • Be licensed to operate in Ontario
  • Comply with all applicable legislation, including federal/provincial human rights legislation, regulations, and any other relevant standards, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Employment Standards Act, freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation.
  • The Employment Service Placement position must be in Ontario
  • Maintain appropriate WSIB or alternate workplace safety insurance coverage and have adequate third-party general liability insurance 
  • NOT hire his or her immediate family members, such as parent, spouse, sibling or child as a trainee;
  •  NOT be receiving government funds from any other source for the same training placement;
  • NOT use placement services to replace existing or laid-off employees
  • NOT be an EO Employment Service service provider.

• As well, employers must commit to:
  • Developing a relevant training plan that will help the participants achieve their employment goal and the help the employer achieve their business goals, in conjunction with the service provider and participant
  • Providing feedback and assessments of a participant’s skills level, where required
  •  Having the potential for long-term employment/contract position for the participant post placement
  •  Demonstrating the ability to provide the participant with adequate supervision and the training/work experience described in the Employment Service Training Plan
  • Placing the participant on the company’s payroll and providing the same employment terms, conditions, and benefits as for all regular employees

There are three categories of participant supports: 

1. Participant Financial Support 

• E.g. work clothing, tools/equipment, dependent care, transportation costs, etc. 

2. Pre-Employment Service Stipend

• Paid workshop hours 

3. Training/Skills Enhancement Support 

• E.g. WHMIS, Smart Serve, Safe Food Handler’s Certificate, etc.

While on a job placement, the participant is employed by the employer and is to be treated as any other employee. As employees, participants must be paid at least minimum wage ($14.25 on October 1, 2020) by the employer. LEAP will then reimburse the employer.

We work with many local businesses in the community which support our placement programs. Job placements are based on each individual youth’s interests, and LEAP is here to help you navigate and achieve your goals. LEAP’s mission is to ensure that the participant is matched with a suitable job (and employer) that aligns with the youth’s goals. 

If the participant does not complete the mandatory 60 (or 20) hours, they will not move on to the placement portion of the program. Youth will be paid for the hours that they have completed. Youth who do not complete the program are allowed to re-enroll in the program at a later date if they choose.

Yes. Participants must complete all pre-employment services to develop job readiness skills and to prepare for a job placement. Youth in the YJC program must complete at least 60 hours of pre-employment workshops and youth in the YJCS program must complete at least 20 hours of workshops before proceeding to a job placement.

If you successfully complete the program, you will be placed on a job placement. Placements offer a range of services that will support matching the youth with job opportunities that align with their employment and career goals. In addition, this service component offers young people employment opportunities that can build work experience, create direct linkages to longer-term jobs and careers, or support youth in making decisions with respect to future education and training.