Need Help During Layoffs?

It can be challenging to manage economic uncertainty. If you or your company needs to lay off employees for any reason, the Rapid Response team can assist businesses by providing resources and on-site services to make the transition easier for both you and your employees.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and our state and local workforce investment system partners offer many services to help businesses and workers deal with the effects of layoffs and plant closures, including those that result from increased competition from imports, natural disasters, and other events.

One such service is Rapid Response. Rapid Response is a pro-active, business-focused, and flexible strategy designed to respond to layoffs and plant closings by quickly coordinating services and providing immediate aid to companies and their affected workers.

Services include:

Information about unemployment benefits (e.g. how to apply, how to claim, responsibilities, severance, waiving the job search for training, etc.)
Job search and career planning assistance through WorkSource
Dislocated worker programs through WorkSource
Career and job fairs designed around your employees’ applicable skills and with convenient access at their current place of work
Worker retraining programs through community and technical colleges
Information on retirement and healthcare coverage

The Rapid Response team represents the Washington State Employment Security Department, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, WorkSource Seattle-King County, King County Community & Technical Colleges, and the Department of Labor (Employee Benefits).

For Businesses: Please contact Kristan Lortz.
For Employees: If you have last your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for additional support. Please contact WorkSource for more information on how to apply.

An Alternative to Layoffs

The Shared Work Program provides an alternative to layoffs of skilled employees during times of temporary economic downturn. Learn more about this program and how it might benefit your company and your staff.