Good practice can help homeless into work
16 July 2013
Homeless people can make a successful transition into work so long as employers follow basic good employment practice, according to a report by London-based homelessness charity, Broadway Homelessness and Support.
Tue, 16 Jul 2013Homeless people can make a successful transition into work so long as employers follow basic good employment practice, according to a report by London-based homelessness charity, Broadway Homelessness and Support.
Research by the charity finds that homeless people benefit from well-planned inductions, regular supervision, clear guidance about their role and support around understanding how to behave in the workplace.
Helen Giles, HR director at Broadway Homelessness and Support, says: “Although only around one in 10 homeless people work, many more are deeply motivated to move into work and to make a positive contribution through their jobs. With basic support from employers this can become a reality.
“The experiences of these 50 people can also help us understand how to help many others in the workplace, from school-leavers going into their first jobs to people re-entering the workplace after several years.
“All of these groups are faced with the challenges of learning new workplace behaviours, managing the transition on to a weekly or monthly wage, and building up confidence which can sometimes be very low.
“Homeless people do not need a lot of specialist support to stay in work. Instead, by having a good understanding of the challenges they might be facing, line managers and human resources teams can help ensure they fulfill their potential within the organisation.”
Research by the charity finds that homeless people benefit from well-planned inductions, regular supervision, clear guidance about their role and support around understanding how to behave in the workplace.
Helen Giles, HR director at Broadway Homelessness and Support, says: “Although only around one in 10 homeless people work, many more are deeply motivated to move into work and to make a positive contribution through their jobs. With basic support from employers this can become a reality.
“The experiences of these 50 people can also help us understand how to help many others in the workplace, from school-leavers going into their first jobs to people re-entering the workplace after several years.
“All of these groups are faced with the challenges of learning new workplace behaviours, managing the transition on to a weekly or monthly wage, and building up confidence which can sometimes be very low.
“Homeless people do not need a lot of specialist support to stay in work. Instead, by having a good understanding of the challenges they might be facing, line managers and human resources teams can help ensure they fulfill their potential within the organisation.”
