Frequently Asked Questions
BCI’s Organizational Employment Program employs adults diagnosed with disabilities in a supported packaging and assembly work environment. Our two facilities are located in St. Peters (St. Charles County) and Moscow Mills (Lincoln County).
Individuals must have a diagnosed disability certified through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). They must also have a positive desire to work. Other qualifications can be found here: Organizational Employment.
Our facilities contain multiple production lines and a variety of products. Noise is often at a moderate level. Employees with sensitivity to sound often wear noise-canceling headphones. Safety is our number one priority. Employees receive frequent training on workplace safety and other best practices as part of their skill development.
Employees perform a variety of packaging and assembly jobs. Jobs can be self-paced (bench work) or line-paced (at the speed of a conveyor). Common tasks include palletizing, stocking, assembling, inspecting, labeling, building display cases and packing, in addition to operating pallet jacks and light machinery.
Each employee is assigned an Employment Support Specialist (ESS). The ESS creates work goals, teaches new skills and responsibilities, and creatively develops each individual to reach his or her full potential at work. Production Supervisors provide additional direct support on the work floor.
Production hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. This is a 29-hour workweek. Full-time employees work five days a week, whereas part-time employees work a minimum of three days a week. Individuals must work 18 hours a week to be eligible for benefits.
Organizational employees are paid wages that are commensurate with their individual production abilities. Through a Minimum Wage Certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor (Section 14c), individual productivity is continually measured and reassessed, resulting in pay changes. While pay can range from $2.00 to $12.00 per hour, the average wage is $7.59.
Yes. In addition to a bi-weekly pay check, employees can participate in a 403(b) retirement plan, earn paid time off, and elect to enroll in vision, dental, and life insurance programs.
Yes. Employees can advance to our 39ers program, which is a 36.5-hour workweek with full benefits. They can also advance to staff line workers or other positions within the organization. Finally, we encourage the pursuit of competitive employment outside of BCI. When that becomes the goal, our Competitive Employment and Skills Center teams can facilitate a smooth transition.
Some employees use Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) waiver funding for transportation, which is coordinated through their case managers. Other employees utilize car pools, drive independently, or pay out-of-pocket for transportation services. BCI does not provide transportation.