Apprenticeship Employer Benefits and Obligations: Electronics Department

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As it becomes more difficult to find and retain skilled employees, employers look increasingly to training their own highly skilled and loyal employees. The apprenticeship is well-suited for this purpose. With this apprenticeship based on the successful German model, and with Arapahoe Community College and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training as training partners, training an apprentice will be uncomplicated and rewarding.

Benefits

• The employer will be able to select the apprentice, evaluate the apprentice during a six-month probationary period, and assess the on-the-job performance of the apprentice for the remainder of the apprenticeship. If the apprentice has performed well during the apprenticeship, upon completion of the apprenticeship the employer can offer the employee a regular position in the organization. The employer will then be able to retain a very valuable employee who is familiar with the organization's products, standards and procedures.
• Because of the long time commitment of the apprentice and the close relationship between apprentice and employer, the employer should experience lower turnover.
• A large pool of applicants for the apprenticeship position will make it easier for the employer to comply with Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity requirements.
• The organization will receive favorable publicity for the valuable community service of training people for a well-paying and meaningful career.

Very few of the obligations that the employer has towards the apprentice go beyond the obligations to any of the regular employees. However, since the apprentice is first and foremost a trainee, additional effort needs to be made to accommodate the training needs. Here are some of the employer's obligations:

• Commit to training the apprentice for the duration of the apprenticeship
• Provide an experienced employee as training supervisor
• Pay above minimum wage with periodic raises
• Provide the same benefits as provided to other employees

The employer will interview and select the apprentice. During the six-month probationary period the employer will be able to evaluate the performance of the apprentice and decide if the apprenticeship should be continued or terminated.

Electronics Home | Apprenticeship | Common Asked Questions | Faculty | Job Outlook