The Province of Manitoba has a role to play in ensuring that ECs across the province have basic job needs met, and, in this way, the benefits will impact the EC’s job effectiveness The ECs working for the province by and large felt their basic needs were met by the availability of job information and work policies. The ECs from First Nations communities have few resources available for their basic job needs and, in some cases, had no policies at all. This point is addressed again for the benefit of the suggestions for rural and northern First Nations communities. Other basic issues, like safety while traveling and the difficulties of weather and isolation, are also more difficult the farther north one travels. The research findings did reveal that an Occupational Health and Wellness program would benefit the workplaces of all ECs. The request for a healthy workplace made it to the Top Five wish list and would indicate that activities in this area will help the EC feel more effective in their role.
The profession of EC is developing in a fragmented fashion in Manitoba. ETS can take a lead role in providing networking and professional development opportunities for the ECs to connect. The integration of provincial services might take a step forward by encouraging and utilizing an occupational group that is fully representative of the province. Good orientation programs will impact positively on the retention of the EC, as well as growth in skill capability due to a longer time in the job.
This level represents the ECs’ feelings about their work flow and the inclusion of their voices and ideas. Each EC had different experiences concerning their ability to voice their opinion at work. Few felt heard; some felt heard, but their managers were unable to help them due to a lack of authority and autonomy. The ECs talked about the difficulty of maintaining a positive attitude when you feel you cannot impact results. ETS needs to be open to the ECs approaching their Leadership to ask for the opportunities to connect to the planning and decision-making process for employment services in their areas. Encouraging more local autonomy in projects will build in flexibility and timelines that ECs need in order to customize client plans.
This refers to the job structures of the EC, including supports like training and development and job supports. The current system of project assignments and the funding approval process take too long and are often a barrier to the success of the project. A more reasonable and flexible process in the province will empower the EC to encourage more complex and integrated projects. Today’s process rarely allows the EC to try new approaches. The Province of Manitoba can provide more access to training opportunities along a standards process to help the EC gauge their progress. The EC also needs the right tools for the trade, and the availability of proper assessments and other intake tools will help them to be more effective in their daily job of helping the job seeker with multiple barriers achieve success.