Chabaso's Workforce Development Program

Introduction

Chabaso Bakery is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce by providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals facing chronic barriers to employment. Through its Rising Together Workforce Development Program, Chabaso aims to empower underemployed populations by offering stable jobs and career training that sets them up for long term success working at Chabaso Bakery or a manufacturing business. This initiative aligns with the company's broader mission to create good jobs, bake amazing bread, and support the health of our community and environment.

Hiring Practices

We operate in a location where formal employment is rare and workforce development is a natural part of our hiring. We have a preference for hiring and recruiting local workers and managers. The Fair Haven area of New Haven, Connecticut, is designated as an Opportunity Zone, a federal program created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to encourage economic development in low-income areas by providing tax incentives to investors.  Fair Haven qualifies due to its low high school diploma or equivalent rate, high poverty rates, lower median household incomes, and historically limited access to employment opportunities. 

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Fair Haven has a poverty rate of approximately 21.9%, compared to the national average of 12.5% and Connecticut’s statewide rate of 10.3% (https://data.census.gov/profile/Connecticut?g=040XX00US09). The median household income in Fair Haven is $46,520 , significantly lower than Connecticut’s median of $91,665 and the national median of $77,719 (https://data.census.gov/profile/Connecticut?g=040XX00US09). Additionally, the unemployment rate in Fair Haven is estimated at 20%, nearly double the overall unemployment rate of New Haven (https://nhfpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FairHaven_April2017.pdf). Fair Haven is also considered a Distressed Community according to the US Census Bureau’s Distressed Communities Index: https://eig.org/distressed-communities/?regions%5B0%5D=06513&geo=zctas&lat=41.16&lon=-72.95&z=8.9. Many residents face barriers to stable, full-time employment due to systemic economic challenges, limited job availability, and a lack of accessible professional development opportunities. 

Chabaso hires individuals facing these barriers. In 2024,individuals from Fair Haven constituted 32% of our workforce. 

Job Quality and Stability

Workers hired through Chabaso’s Rising Together Workforce Development Program receive the same benefits as all workers. Due to our limited internal HR resources, we utilize a temp to perm agency to recruit and onboard all new employees. Temporary positions are approximately 12 weeks long. We do not use temporary workers the way that traditional companies use temporary workers. We use our temp agency to hire into permanent positions.

Training and Professional Development

To support career growth, Chabaso provides:

• Basic job training to ensure employees can safely and effectively perform their roles 

• Chabaso provides comprehensive basic job training to ensure all employees can safely and effectively perform their roles. This training covers essential aspects of food safety, quality control, and operational procedures specific to our bakery environment. This foundational training is integrated into our onboarding process for new hires and is regularly updated to reflect industry best practices. Our commitment to basic training not only ensures compliance with food industry standards but also sets the stage for employee success and growth within the company.

• Technical/professional training that extends beyond job requirements

• Chabaso offers technical and professional training opportunities to foster employee growth and development. This includes specialized training in baking techniques, equipment operation, and quality assurance processes. We also provide opportunities for employees to attend industry conferences and workshops, allowing them to stay current with the latest trends and innovations in the baking industry. This investment in our employees' professional development not only improves their job performance but also enhances their long-term career prospects.

• Life skills training such as financial literacy and conflict management

• Chabaso’s partnership with John Hancock offers financial literacy training (in English and Spanish) through the John Hancock app. This includes a video series on the basics of personal finance, podcasts, webinars, and learning modules. Information is reinforced through in-person education sessions, the most recent of which happened in September 2024.

• Through Chabaso’s partnership with the Paycom learning management system, employees have access to self-guided courses in environmental responsibility, wellness, diversity, addressing stress, cybersecurity, substance abuse, workplace safety, leadership and other topics. Materials are available in English and Spanish. 

In the past 12 months, employees from underemployed populations have taken part in 380 hours of training over approximately 12 weeks. 

Tracking and Measuring Success

To gauge the long-term impact of our Rising Together Workforce Development Program, Chabaso tracks length of employment and attrition. These insights help refine program offerings and ensure lasting career benefits for participants.

Conclusion

Chabaso’s Rising Together Workforce Development Program plays a vital role in creating equitable job opportunities for individuals facing employment challenges in our Fair Haven community. By fostering career growth and offering essential training, we not only enhance the lives of our workers but also strengthen the community as a whole.