Rapid Response services provide various benefits to affected workers during layoffs or plant closings and to the employer. As a result, companies and workers are better prepared and suited for transition. In addition, providing Rapid Response to your workers will help assure:
- Higher productivity, morale, and lower absenteeism during the layoff event due to reduced stress
- Lower unemployment insurance costs as workers are re-employed more quickly when services precede the layoff
- Decreased likelihood of sabotage or work disruptions
- Media and rumor management. Rapid Response teams understand the often-confidential nature of layoffs and will work with the company to ensure confidentiality, to the extent of the WARN Act.
- Better public relations for the employer
- The option of layoff aversion through the Shared Work Unemployment Program offered by the DOES Office of Unemployment Compensation.
The Rapid Response team can also provide information to companies concerning federal requirements or laws for notification, including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Currently, the District of Columbia does not have local WARN Act requirements and only applies the federal model. The Rapid Response team primarily serves the District of Columbia businesses and residents. However, other state Rapid Response representatives' contacts are here.