WLG General Questions

1.What is WLG?

• Work, Learn, Grow is a school-year employment program open to  Summer Youth Employment Program participants who are currently in school and between the ages of 16 and 21 only.

• WLG Career ready: Targets SYEP participants from specific schools and students completed a CUNY college course before receiving an internship offer. They will have a guaranteed job in the summer

• This year we are serving up to 323 youth throughout the WLG Career ready and Special initiative NYCHA program.

2. Who is my primary point of contact for WLG?

• You will be assigned a Worksite Monitor staff. This person will be your CASW liaison and communicate with you regularly to ensure that things are running smoothly. They will facilitate required paperwork, such as weekly assessments and evaluations.

• If you have any issues with a Worksite monitor staff reach out immediately to worksites@caswkids.org 

3.How do I review and approve my participants' hours?

• Please log in to the Worksite Portal to review and approve participant hours. The approval period is every Sunday - Monday (12:00 PM cutoff). Failure to approve participant hours will result in late payments. Program Payroll Schedule

• Watch Video: Worksite Portal Training | Quick Start Guide: Hours Approval Process

4.How do I get my Worksite Portal username and password?

• New Worksites: You will receive an email from DoNotReply@yepsonline.org with your username and instructions to change your password. This will be sent to the email you provided on the worksite application. Please be sure to check your spam and/or junk folder.

• Returning Worksites: Please log into the Worksite Portal with your previous username and password. If you do not remember your password, please use the “Forgot Password” link

Please Note:

• All supervisors that require access must be listed on the original worksite application.

• The system will use the email address initially provided on the worksite application.

• Some organizations' firewalls (e.g., DOE, NYPD, and CVS) will block access to the Worksite Portal. These sites require a separate approval process.

If you are still unable to access your account, please contact worksites@caswkids.org

5.How do my participants submit their hours?

• Participants submit their hours online via the Participant Site. The participant timesheet submission period is Wednesday - Saturday (11:59 PM cutoff). The site is not available Sunday - Tuesday. For further details, please see the video and quick start guide below.

• Watch Video: Participant Timesheet Entry | Quick Start Guide: Hours Entry Process

6.How do my participants get paid?/Who to contact about payment issues

• Participants can sign up for direct deposit via the Participant Site or get a Pay Card mailed to their home address. Participants will be able to access their funds, regardless of the method chosen, on their pay dates.

• Video: Payment Education

• Any issues with payment they can reach payroll@caswkids.org

• If participant loses the city payroll card they must report them directly by calling and cancel it and request a replacement card 1-877-474-0010

• If participant has direct deposit and needs to change the account, must email SYEPBX@CASWKIDS.ORG requesting this.

7.What training have my participants received prior to starting?

• Participants have received training on work readiness, professional etiquette in the workplace, and navigating the payroll systems through orientations and DYCD platforms. Please see Career Ready Skills as a reference to some of the topics covered.

• Important to note: Students participate in this program to gain work experience, learn new skills, and receive hands-on training. Not all participants come with the skill set of an experienced employee. It is your privilege to manage them accordingly to help them succeed.

8.How do I conduct evaluations for my participants?

• Your worksite monitor will provide an evaluation form template for your participants.

• Step 1: Please complete the evaluation thoroughly.

• Step 2: Meet with each participant individually to discuss their evaluation. Both parties should sign the evaluation at the end of this meeting.

• Step 3: Return the signed evaluation to your worksite monitor.

• Please note there are two separate evaluations: mid-program and program end. Reference:  Sample template Participant Evaluation

9. What do I do if I have to report an incident?

• If a participant is involved in a serious incident, especially requiring the involvement of police or paramedics, please email us at Worksites@caswkids.org and cc Program Director Jfigueroa@caswkids.org immediately. 

• For details, please refer to Part IV: Incident Reporting in the Worksite Handbook (pg.16). 

10. What do I do if my participant does not email, call or show up to work as scheduled? 

• In the event that a participant does not show up to work as scheduled and does not contact a worksite supervisor regarding their absence, you must contact your worksite monitor staff immediately.

11. How do I handle participant performance issues?

• Before your interns start, we recommend that you read the articles below.

  • How To Effectively Manage Teenage Employees

  • Performance Management Tips (helpful resource from DYCD) 

• If you encounter serious performance issues, please contact your Job Readiness Counselor to discuss the issues and the next steps. 

• Under no circumstance is the Worksite authorized to send the Participant home before completing their workday or terminate the Participant from the Worksite without notifying and receiving the consent of the SYEP Provider. See Worksite Handbook (pg. 16).

12. What if my worksite requires participants to have special equipment or clothing?

• As per the 2024 Worksite Handbook, it is a worksite’s responsibility to provide the equipment and materials required for participants to perform the work activities proposed. This includes any special uniforms (e.g., t-shirts, caps) for participants required to be worn to perform daily duties. Worksites may not ask participants or CBO providers to cover the cost of any tools, materials, or equipment.

• For details please refer to Worksite Handbook Part I: Section C, Special Tools, Pg. 6.

13. How do I sign documents electronically?

• You can use Adobe, DocuSign, or DocHub to e-sign documentation. 

• If you do not have access to these programs, we can send sign requests to you via email. For further details, please see the video and quick start guide below.

• Watch Video: DocHub - How to Sign a Document

• Quick Start Guide: Receiving a sign request as the signer