Opening session of the ETA Region 1 State Administrators' meeting in July 2012. This presentation focuses on Rapid Response under the Workforce Investment Act.

1. The New ETA Vision for Rapid Response
ETA Region 1 - Rapid Response Roundtable - July 2012
Presented By:
• Timothy Theberge, U.S. DOL – ETA, Region 1
• Jeff Ryan, U.S. DOL – ETA, Office of National Response
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

2. 2
The When you
PROMISE
of the need us most,
Workforce
Investment
we will be there.
System
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

3. 3
• To establish a comprehensive,
collaborative effort to improve
Why are we the Rapid Response system
here? throughout the country by
promoting consistent, high
quality, timely and innovative
responses to economic
transition.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

4. Rapid Response: Transition
Management
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

5. 5
Rapid Response
• Required state function under the Workforce
What Is Investment Act (WIA); funded by reserving up to
Rapid 25% of the state’s WIA Dislocated Worker
Response? allotment
• Provides direct reemployment services and
facilitates additional services and resources;
carried out by states and local workforce
development organizations in partnership with
One-Stop Career Centers.
• Arranges for the provision of support services
such as unemployment insurance, health care,
home heating assistance, legal aid, financial
advice, and other forms of critical assistance to
affected workers and communities
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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AND….
Faster
engagement
= Better Rapid Response is a primary
results gateway to the workforce
system for both dislocated
workers and employers
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Legislative Authorization
From the
Sec 665.300 WIA Final Rule
Regs…
(a) Rapid response … “activities
necessary to plan and deliver services to
enable dislocated workers to transition to
new employment as quickly as
possible”
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

8. “Other” Uses of Rapid Response Funds
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

9. The Shrinking Envelope of Innovation
The outer most line (red) represents Federal legislation.
The next line (blue) represents Federal regulations.
The third (green) represents state rules.
The last line (orange) represents local rules.
The distance between orange and red represents lost
opportunities for innovation. Our mission is to get locals
and states to maximize the flexibility allowed by law.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Regional Asset Mapping
• Service providers, community
Transition
Management
and faith based organizations,
(The Economy) educational facilities,
foundations [665.320(b)]
• Economic Mapping
• At-risk employers, growth
employers, infrastructure assets
and needs, technology transfer
(R&D) capabilities
[665.320(d)(3)]
• Action not Reaction
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• State-Based NEG
Rapid • Rapid Response funds used
Response to assist local areas in
“Set-Aside” responding to events that do
not otherwise qualify for a
NEG
• “Gap-Filler” Funds
• Covers the gap between
layoff and NEG
• NEG funds used to replenish
set-aside funds
• Trade “wrap around”
services
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Approach at-risk (and growth) employers
with information on Rapid Response and
Business One-Stop services BEFORE there are
Visitation layoffs
Programs • Does not wait for first contact with employer to
be in relation to layoffs
• Links businesses with financial planning,
technology planning, marketing and job
training resources (layoff aversion)
• TAA for Firms, Commerce, Economic
Development
• Ongoing effort, not a one-time event
• Focus on small to medium sized
employers first
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Provides actionable intelligence
prior to layoff
Skills Gap • Allows local workforce system to
Analysis develop and deploy strategic
planning efforts ahead of layoffs
• Should focus on both at-risk and
growth employers and/or sectors
• Crosswalk skill sets of workforce
to regional economies
• REMI, EMSI, TORQ, etc.
NOTE: Mention of a particular product does not constitute and
endorsement thereof. ETA does not endorse particular products or
vendors.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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667.262(b)(4)
Small
“Active participation in local business
Business
resource centers (incubators) [One-
Assistance
Stops] to provide technical assistance to
Services
small and new business to reduce the
rate of business failure;” [added]
Possible Technical Assistance Areas
(HR Related):
Resolving Conflict, Assisting Troubled and
Difficult Employees, Managing Employee
Turnover and Absenteeism, Supervisory Skills
Enrichment (Human Resource Seminars)
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Incumbent Worker Training*
Incumbent • 665.320(d)
Assist in devising and overseeing strategies
Worker for:
Training (1) Layoff aversion, such as prefeasibility
studies of avoiding a plant closure through
an option for a company or group, including
the workers, to purchase the plant or
company and continue it in operation;
(2) Incumbent worker training, including
employer loan programs for employee skill
upgrading; and
(3) Linkages with economic development
activities at the Federal, State and local
levels, including Federal Department of
Commerce programs and available State
and local business retention and
recruitment activities.
*A waiver is required to use RR H E N E Wpay the direct O N F of R R A P I D worker training.
T funds to E T A V I S I costs O incumbent R E S P O N S E

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• Full complement of allowable services not
completely defined in regulations
• Could allow for operation of mobile or
Disaster temporary one-stops
• Must be coordinated with FEMA and the
Response State EMA
• Co-location with these agencies should
be a priority
• Assist workers in accessing DUA and other
benefits and services
• Assist employers in reopening
• Beware of restriction on “employment
generating activities”
• Pre-planning activities may also be allowable
• Responding to Disasters is a REQUIRED
Activity
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• GIS to map dislocations, growth
employers and available
resources
• Laptops, cell phones, etc. for
Technology Rapid Response staff
• Mobility and connectivity are two
key aspects of strong rapid
response services
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Comprised of a variety of
community members
Community
Transition • Develops Local Resource Guide
Teams • Faith and Community Based
Services
• Mental Health Services
• Other Government Agency
Services
• Provides non-employment related
workshops
• Holds community and fundraising
events
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Maintain a presence for your
organization on Twitter, Facebook and
Social other social media sites
Networking • A great way to reach dislocated workers
and employers
as a Service
• Maintain a presence for yourself on
LinkedIn and other similar sites
• A great way for people you know to connect
to our services when they need them
• If your current IT policies don’t allow
you access to them, get those policies
changed
• In case you missed it, the way the world
communicates has changed.
• Facebook: Fueling revolutions since 2011.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

20. Rapid Response:
It’s not just for layoffs anymore.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Rapid Response is PROACTIVE
Don’t wait • Prepared
for WARN… • Delivered through a well-developed service
infrastructure
• Fully integrated Layoff Aversion strategies
• Early Intervention
• Engaged with the regional economy
including:
• Labor
• Economic Development
• Business Community
• Local WIBs & One Stops
• Education
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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It is NOT event-driven; it is a pro-active
approach to planning for and
Bend the managing economic transitions.
Rapid Response requires:
Curve
• Ongoing efforts to build relationships with
employers and other community stakeholders
• Knowledge of labor market trends and
economic forecasts
• Strategic planning, data gathering and
analysis designed to anticipate, prepare for,
and manage economic transition
• Understanding workforce assets and needs
• Convening, facilitating, and brokering
connections, networks, and partners
• Planning for and responding to layoffs,
minimizing their impacts wherever possible
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Rapid
Response
Throughout
the Business
Cycle
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

24. An orientation does not Rapid
Response make. If it does, you’re doing
it wrong.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

25. Rapid Response
Flow Chart
LWIB - Local Workforce Investment Board
NEG - National Emergency Grant
OSCC - One-Stop Career Center
TRA - Trade Readjustment Act
UI - Unemployment Insurance
WIB – State Workforce Investment Board
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

26. Layoff Aversion 2.0
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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From TEGL 30-09:
Defining • ETA considers a layoff averted
Layoff when:
Aversion • 1) a worker’s job is saved with an
existing employer that is at risk of
downsizing or closing; or
• 2) a worker at risk of dislocation
transitions to a different job with the
same employer or a new job with a
different employer and experiences
no or a minimal spell of
unemployment.
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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1 2
BROADER IDEA:
Saving the Company Lessening the Impact
or Jobs of Layoffs
• Lessening the number of • Fewer people filing for UI
employees that the company needs benefits
to layoff
• Claimants filing for fewer weeks
• ESOPs - Employee buyouts
• Linking with other companies that
• Finding a buyer for the closing are hiring (Company Match)
business
• OJT programs-linking with growing
• Linking with Economic companies
Development
• Early warning networks
• Incumbent worker programs
• Effective partnerships
• Workshare
• (Short-Time Compensation)
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Helps preserve jobs
Short-Time
• Reduces impact on UI trust fund
Compensation
(Workshare) • Option to provide training to STC
participants
• Increases job skills of participants
• Grant funds available to promote and
enroll employers
• Coordinated with Rapid Response and
business service teams
• Opportunity to leverage Rapid Response
funds for layoff aversion
• Conforming legislation / policy revision
required
• Deadline: December 31, 2014
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

30. Rapid Response:
Partnering For Success
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Rapid
• Early intervention services
Response & allow dislocated workers the
The Bottom best chance of re-entering
Line the workforce with the least
amount of time and money
lost.
• Rapid Response services in
Massachusetts saved the MA UI
Trust Fund an estimated $6.6m in
PY2008
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Response to company
Rapid
Response closures and layoffs
Initiated • Layoff Aversion / Company
Programs
Matching
• Rapid Response Set-Aside
• National Emergency Grants
• Trade Adjustment Assistance
• For Firms
• For Workers
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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• Private Outplacement
• Staffing Firms
Building
• Economic Development
Partnerships
• Business Community
• Other State and Local
agencies
• Community-based
Organizations
• Faith-based Organizations
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

34. Wrapping Up
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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If the worst economic
The Time to condition since the
Innovate
GREAT DEPRESSION
Was
Yesterday isn’t enough motivation,
what’s it going to take?
“If you do what you’ve always
done, you get what you always
got.” – Roger von Oech
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE

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Timothy Theberge
Boston Regional Office
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Thank You! 617-788-0139
theberge.timothy@dol.gov
timtheberge@gmail.com
@timtheberge (Twitter)
THE NEW ETA VISION FOR RAPID RESPONSE