Business Closures
If businesses are completely closing, business owners should inform their employees of this in writing and that all employees are laid off until further notice.
It is very important for businesses to also file a WARN Notice. WARN Notices help trigger additional state and federal funding for our region that can be utilized in flexible ways to help people during this crisis.
Both of these actions help track closures and provide workers with documentation to claim Unemployment Insurance.
Rapid Response
Rapid Response is a proactive, business-focused, and flexible strategy designed for two major purposes:
- To respond to announcements of layoffs and plant closings by quickly coordinating services and providing immediate aid to companies and their affected workers to ensure rapid reemployment, and to minimize the negative impacts of the layoff.
- To help growing companies access the resources they need to continue to be successful, including helping meet existing and future talent needs.
Our Rapid Response Team can provide services to help company leadership and affected workers through the painful transitions associated with job loss. We help affected workers apply for unemployment benefits, access other income support and healthcare resources, and connect to training and reemployment services.
In response to the current state of the workforce impacted by COVID-19, there is an option to conduct Rapid Response sessions virtually.
For assistance, please contact your local Workforce Center.