JFF, in partnership with DOL, is calling for businesses to take the Business Pledge to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Registered Apprenticeships, a nationwide call to action to accomplish the Business leaders, policymakers, advocacy groups, and other apprenticeship stakeholders must address the opportunity gap within apprenticeship. 3 shared goal of creating greater access and opportunity for underrepresented groups to join apprenticeship programs. The pledge asks employers to support DEIA strategies in their recruitment, selection, and training of apprentices.
By
taking this pledge, your business is joining a community of local, state, and national employers and labor partners that believe in removing barriers to increase access and opportunity to underrepresented populations in high-quality Registered Apprenticeships. You will gain access to support, promising practices, and tools to assist you in upholding your pledge. To encourage other employers and stakeholders to participate, you may be contacted by JFF to share promising practices in reducing barriers and adopting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies that contribute to the advancement of apprenticeships for all Americans.
The Pledge
I, the undersigned, do pledge on behalf of COMPANY to support a set of principles and practices to ensure that all Americans have the access and opportunity to succeed in the workplace through the proven pathway of Registered Apprenticeships. I pledge to work towards removing barriers that may prevent qualified women, people of color, people with disabilities, workers who live in rural communities, and individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system from gaining access to high-quality apprenticeships, training, education, and good jobs and wages.
To fulfill the pledge, your company can take the below actions to achieve the goals of promoting opportunity for all, eliminating barriers to entry into apprenticeship, and providing meaningful opportunities to succeed for people underrepresented in apprenticeship:
Revise Recruitment and Talent Attraction Strategies
Conduct purposeful and intentional outreach to underrepresented groups in apprenticeship, such as to local workforce boards, community colleges, community-based organizations (CBOs) and minority-serving colleges and universities
Promote Fair and Equitable Hiring Practices
Engage human resources staff and hiring managers on implementing contemporary DEIA practices and make fair decisions regarding applicants without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, ability, or background
Review and revise human resources policies and practices to remove barriers for apprentices
Reach out to local workforce agencies, community-based organizations, colleges, and others in your community to attract and recruit a wider range of talent
Lead, join, or host apprenticeship opportunity events within your company or community
Share promising best practices and success stories with other employers
Take Action in Your Local Community
Start a Registered Apprenticeship program reflecting the demographics of your community
Provide apprentices, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, with access to continued learning, development, and advancement opportunities that support career development and provide for more equitable outcomes for all
Conduct outreach to and support apprenticeships within local K-12 school districts, community-based organizations, community colleges, workforce boards, minority-serving institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Set an Example for Other Businesses
Promote your commitment to the pledge
Share and disseminate successes and lessons learned with JFF and DOL to encourage other employers and stakeholders to reduce barriers that contribute to the advancement of apprenticeships for all Americans
