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Rapid Response
What is Rapid Response?
- Meetings and workshops for employees who receive notice of layoff
- Introduction to local job placement and training programs
- Information on current job market and employment trends
- Early transition to reemployment
Rapid Response is the first step in informing workers of the many resources that are available in their own community. Rapid Response provides information about Unemployment Insurance benefits and training programs, job openings in the area, job-ready skill development, career assessment and counseling, and support in meeting financial and family obligations.
Why Provide Rapid Response?
- Demonstrate support for employees
- Ease tension and anxiety after layoff announcement
- Increase employee moral
- Provide tools and techniques for job search
- Answer employees' questions and concerns
- Allow time for appropriate choices and decisions
Rapid response helps minimize the effects of layoffs for workers.
Because of the knowledge they gain at these workshops, employees who attend rapid response meetings have a quicker re-entry rate into the workforce, often with better and higher paying jobs than if they did not participate in these services. Rapid response workshops include topics such as resumes, cover letters, interviewing techniques and utilizing Internet resources.
Rapid Response Can:
- Rent meeting rooms and equipment
- Arrange for interpreters
- Conduct multiple workshops
- Coordinate with local service agencies and community partners to provide integrated services
- Survey employees to determine appropriate services
- Provide packets and materials
Ideal Scheduling
- Before layoffs occur
- At work site
- During working hours
The Rapid Response team may include:
- Workforce Development Offices
 Unemployment Insurance
Workforce Investment programs
- Consumer Credit Counseling
- Local Community College
- Health & Human Services
- United Way
- Veterans Administration
Programs and Services:
- Job search, matching and referral
- Labor market information
- Interviewing and résumé's
- Career assessment and counseling
- Training and re-employment programs
- Unemployment Insurance
- Support in meeting financial and family needs
- Easy access to coordinated services
Rapid Response is an equal opportunity program.
The State DWU will provide the following assistance upon receipt of a WARN notice of substantial layoff, plant closure, or finding of exceptional circumstances:
- Establish contact with the employer to verify the layoff, provide information on Workforce Development and Dislocated Worker services that are available to the employer and employees, and encourage an on-site meeting to establish a strategic plan to provide such services.
- Coordinate the development of a strategic plan (to serve the affected employees) with the employer, labor organization, local one-stop center, and other appropriate agencies. Strategic plan activities may include but are not limited to:
- Identify the employees impacted by the layoff, including their wage scale and occupation.
- Identify company benefits available to employees, i.e. severance pay, job development/job search activities, relocation or reemployment opportunities.
- Identify the dislocated worker services that are available and the agencies that will provide the services.
- Coordinate the rapid response effort with the following agencies as appropriate: Employment Service, Unemployment Insurance, Workforce Investment Services (Service Delivery Area), Education, Health & Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Economic Development, United Way, Consumer Credit Counselling, other state or local government agencies and other community organizations.
- Determine rapid response meeting dates, times, and location. Rapid response meetings provide information to impacted employees on reemployment, training, and transitional services.
The State Dislocated Worker Unit may provide Rapid Response assistance to Nebraska plant closures and permanent layoffs which are not the result of a plant closure, but when there is an employment loss at a single site of employment during any 30-day period for at least 25 employees (excluding those regularly working less than 20 hours).
Call the Dislocated Worker Unit about scheduling a Rapid Response if your company is closing or experiencing a permanent layoff.
Nebraska Department of Labor
Office of Employment & Training
550 South 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone (402) 471-9883 (collect calls cannot be accepted)
Email NDOL.ETRapidResponse@nebraska.gov
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