Rapid Response Team offers layoff help to municipalities, employees

For municipal employers that face tough budget choices and make the difficult decision to lay off employees, a state program is ready to help them manage the difficult process for both employers and employees.

The Rapid Response Team at the MassHire Department of Career Services offers numerous free resources to Massachusetts employers, including municipalities and school districts, that are experiencing layoffs, and offers outplacement services to help provide an effective transition for the affected employees.

Engaging with the Rapid Response Team can benefit both employers and employees. According to the team, employers that start services before laying off employees have lower unemployment insurance costs, and are better able to maintain morale and productivity during the transition. And their employees will receive timely job placement assistance, which could include job referrals, customized job fairs, workshops and resume preparation, training options and enrollment for the MassHire JobQuest website.

The Rapid Response Team can help by:
• Meeting with organizations to establish a working relationship and planning for the services to be provided
• Conducting an employee information and orientation session to inform laid-off workers about their eligibility for services and benefits, as well as to answer questions about job searches and unemployment insurance, register and refer employees to MassHire Career Centers, conduct a survey of employee needs, and discuss the content and timetables of various Rapid Response services
• Conducting job readiness workshops on resume writing, job interview techniques, job search strategies and job fair preparation
• Developing job leads and providing job fair services
• Providing one-on-one meetings with employees to discuss individual needs, including resume critique, mock interviews, and customized action plans

For more information about the program, municipal employers can visit the team’s website, contact Rapid Response/Business Services Director Ken Messina at the statewide office at ken.messina@mass.gov, or reach out to one of the team’s regional coordinators.

• Rapid Response Employer Information Sheet
• June 17 Rapid Response Virtual Meetings for Municipal Employees registration information