The Georgia Department of Economic Development – Workforce Division serves as the state’s Dislocated Worker Unit. WorkSource Georgia Mountains has been assigned the Rapid Response responsibilities within the Local Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Georgia’s approach to Rapid Response leverages the relationships and knowledge of local workforce areas to help provide services to dislocated workers. This integrated approach ensures that the state both responds in a timely manner, and that the state has a presence with employers and employees after services have been provided. This allocation to local WIOA’s utilizes the state’s resources with less duplication of services.
Rapid Response teams include GOWD Rapid Response staff, WorkSource Georgia Mountains staff, representatives from GDOL local career centers, and other economic development or community partners. The WorkSource Georgia Mountains assists workers in accessing community resource services to support their transition to a new job or career. The WorkSource Georgia Mountains must maintain appropriate program alignment amongst the various employment programs and financial assistance agencies. This should include how the WorkSource Georgia Mountains works with local offices which handle Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Wagner-Peyser and Unemployment Insurance so as to avoid duplication of services.
Rapid Response can provide customized services on-site at an affected company, accommodate work schedules, and assist companies and workers through the transitions associated with job loss. These services may include but are not limited to:
- Employee Information Sessions
- Employee Orientations on U.I and other GDOL Employment Services
- Job Fairs
- Development of On-the-Job and Customized Training Programs
- Incumbent Worker Training Programs
- Onsite Transition Centers and Onsite Training Services with the use of Mobile Training Units (MTU)
- Workshops encompassing the following topics:
- Job search techniques
- Career exploration
- Career assessments
- Labor market information
- Resume writing
- Interview skills
- Money management
- Community Resources exploration
- Basic computer skills
- Educational Opportunities:
- Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act
- Grants and scholarships through HOPE, and Pell
- Adult Education and GED training
- Post-Secondary school growth and demand programs
- On the job training
- Local college presentations at Job fair and employee information sessions
- TAA information to certified customers
In accordance with federal law, Georgia responds to layoffs of 50 or more employees from eligible employers subject to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) guidelines. Additionally, the state makes an effort to respond to the needs of employers by providing rapid response services to layoffs of 25 or more employees.
For more information, please contact Dan Thorton, Rapid Response Coordinator