What is Rapid Response?

Rapid Response is a cooperative effort between the Local Workforce Development Area Rapid Response Coordinator, the SLO Cal Careers Center, and the Employment Development Department (EDD) to assist employers and workers during a mass layoff or business closure. Rapid Response teams disseminate information on the adult and dislocated worker programs available at the SLO Cal Careers Center under Title I of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act and Unemployment Insurance programs. The primary purpose of Rapid Response is to enable affected workers to return to work as quickly as possible following a layoff, or to prevent layoffs altogether.

• Rapid Response Coordinator
• Employment Development Department
• SLO Cal Careers Center Partners
• Department of Social Services
• Economic Development (as needed)
• Business Representatives

Providing Rapid Response services to your workers during layoffs or plant closings results in multiple benefits to employers, such as:

• Higher productivity and worker morale and lower absenteeism during layoff event due to reduced stress
• Lower unemployment insurance costs as workers are re-employed more quickly when services are begun prior to layoff
• Better public relations for an employer. Rapid Response can work with the media to highlight services an employer is providing to its workers during a layoff period

If the dislocation is the result of foreign competition or foreign relocation, the dislocated worker may be eligible for assistance, income support, job search assistance/relocation and/or training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

WARN Provisions

The California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) provisions provide protection to employees, their families and communities by requiring employers to give affected employees and other state and local representatives notice 60 days in advance of a plant closing or mass layoff. An overview of the general parameters of the law is available however employers should carefully review the California WARN provisions and the Federal WARN law for a full understanding of the notification requirements to employers.

Facing a Layoff or Closure?

If you are an employer or worker in SLO County facing a layoff or closure, please contact your Rapid Response Coordinator at (805) 781-1934 or [email protected].

Media Coverage

The Slice Pizza and Games in Paso Robles closes permanently during pandemic

COVID-19 guts Central Coast leisure industry of thousands of jobs.