DWD 296.07(1)(1) Utilization goal. The department has established a utilization goal of 7 percent for employment of qualified individuals with disabilities as apprentices for each major occupation group within each sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program. The utilization goal established in this subsection shall act as a benchmark against which a sponsor shall measure the representation of individuals with disabilities in the sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program by major occupation group. The goal serves as an equal opportunity objective that is attainable by complying with all of the affirmative action requirements in this chapter.

DWD 296.07(2)(2) Utilization analysis. A utilization analysis is designed to evaluate the representation of individuals with disabilities in a sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program grouped by major occupation. If individuals with disabilities are represented in a sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program in any given major occupation at a rate less than the utilization goal of 7 percent, the sponsor shall take specific measures prescribed under subs. (6) and (7).

DWD 296.07(3)(3) Process. A sponsor shall analyze the representation of individuals within their registered apprenticeship program by occupation. A sponsor shall group all apprentices according to occupational titles represented in a sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program. For each occupation represented, a sponsor shall identify the number of apprentices with disabilities.

DWD 296.07(4)(4) Schedule of evaluation. A sponsor shall conduct the apprentice workforce analysis at each compliance review and again when three years have passed without a compliance review. The updated workforce analysis shall be compared to the utilization goal established under sub. (1).

DWD 296.07(5)(5) Compliance date.

DWD 296.07(5)(a)(a) A sponsor with a registered apprenticeship program as of January 18, 2018 shall conduct a workforce analysis under this section no later than 2 years after January 18, 2018.

DWD 296.07(5)(b)(b) A sponsor registering an apprenticeship program after January 18, 2018 shall conduct its initial workforce analysis under this section no later than 2 years after the date of registration.

DWD 296.07(6)(6) Identification of problem areas. When a sponsor, working with the department, determines the percentage of individuals under sub. (3) is less than the utilization goal established under sub. (1), the sponsor shall take steps to determine if impediments to equal opportunities exist and where impediments to equal opportunity exist. In making this determination, a sponsor shall look at the results of its assessment of personnel processes required under s. DWD 296.09 and the effectiveness of its outreach and recruitment efforts required under s. DWD 296.08, if applicable.

DWD 296.07(7)(7) Action-oriented programs. A sponsor shall undertake action-oriented programs, including targeted outreach, recruitment, and retention activities identified in s. DWD 296.08, designed to correct any problem areas that a sponsor identified pursuant to the review of personnel processes and outreach and recruitment efforts.

DWD 296.07(8)(8) Utilization goal relation to discrimination. A determination that a sponsor has not attained the utilization goal established under sub. (1) in one or more major occupation groups does not constitute a finding or admission of discrimination in violation of this chapter.

DWD 296.07(9)(9) Utilization goal not a quota or ceiling. The utilization goal established under sub. (1) shall not be used as a quota or ceiling that limits or restricts the employment of individuals with disabilities as apprentices.

DWD 296.07 HistoryHistory: CR 19-003: cr. Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., and correction in (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register September 2019 No. 765.

DWD 296.08(1)(1) Minimum activities required. A sponsor that has found underutilization and established a utilization goal for a specific group under s. DWD 296.06 or 296.07 shall undertake targeted outreach, recruitment, and retention activities that are likely to generate an increase in applications for apprenticeship and improve retention of apprentices from the targeted group or from individuals with disabilities. A sponsor under this section shall conduct all of the following:

DWD 296.08(1)(a)(a) In the written affirmative action plan, identify the specific targeted outreach, recruitment, and retention activities planned for the upcoming program year. These activities shall include all of the following:

DWD 296.08(1)(a)1.1. Distribution of information to organizations serving the underutilized group regarding the nature of apprenticeship, requirements for selection for apprenticeship, availability of apprenticeship opportunities, and the equal opportunity pledge of the sponsor.

DWD 296.08 NoteNote: Examples of these organizations include community-based organizations, local high schools, local community colleges, local vocational, career, and technical schools, and local workforce system partners including job centers.

DWD 296.08(1)(a)2.2. Advertising openings for apprenticeship opportunities by publishing advertisements in appropriate media which have wide circulation in the relevant recruitment areas.

DWD 296.08(1)(a)3.3. Cooperating with local school boards and the vocational education system to develop or establish relationships with pre-apprenticeship programs targeting students from the underutilized group to prepare them to meet the standards and criteria required to qualify for entry into apprenticeship programs.

DWD 296.08(1)(a)4.4. Establishing linkage agreements or partnerships enlisting the assistance and support of pre-apprenticeship programs, community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, or other appropriate organizations, in recruiting qualified individuals for apprenticeship.

DWD 296.08(1)(b)(b) Evaluate and document, after every selection cycle for registering apprentices, the overall effectiveness of the activities.

DWD 296.08(1)(d)(d) Maintain records of the targeted outreach, recruitment, and retention activities and records related to the evaluation of these activities.

DWD 296.08(2)(2) Other activities. In addition to the activities in sub. (1), sponsors are encouraged to consider other outreach, recruitment, and retention activities that may assist sponsors in addressing any barriers to equal employment opportunity in its registered apprenticeship program. These activities may include any of the following:

DWD 296.08(2)(a)(a) Enlisting the use of journeyworkers from the underutilized group to assist in the implementation of a sponsor’s affirmative action program.

DWD 296.08(2)(b)(b) Enlisting the use of journeyworkers from the underutilized group to mentor apprentices and to assist a sponsor’s targeted outreach and recruitment activities.

DWD 296.08(2)(c)(c) Conducting exit interviews of each apprentice who leaves the sponsor’s registered apprenticeship program prior to receiving a certificate of completion to understand better why the apprentice is leaving the program and to help shape the sponsor’s retention activities.