State employment program criticized
February 2020
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
A state hiring program designed to reverse Minnesota's historically low rate of employment of people with disabilities has fallen short.
The Connect 700 program in Minnesota, initiated in 2016 to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in state government, has faced criticism and has fallen short of expectations. Despite being designed to provide early preference to applicants with disabilities for hundreds of state jobs, data from the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office revealed that only around 20% of approved participants were ultimately hired, with fewer than 1% remaining employed in state government.
The program's challenges include poor leadership, inadequate training, and lack of communication regarding requirements such as regular check-ins. Reports from current and former state employees suggest that participants have faced obstacles, including ignored requests for accommodations and a perception of being treated as second-class employees, leading to concerns about the program's effectiveness and the support provided to individuals with disabilities in state employment.