WorkSource Rapid Response in high gear

 

A new partnership has recently been formed to provide the best in rapid response services to businesses and their employees across both Snohomish and King Counties . This partnership, called the SWAT Team, includes the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council (WDC), the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, the Washington State Employment Security Department, a local Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) representative, local community colleges, and the King County WARN team.

 

Rapid Response is a system designed to provide information and resources to employees and employers who are experiencing some type of downsizing, whether it is a layoff or a business/plant closure. The SWAT team partnership works collaboratively to best serve employers in our communities experiencing plant closures or mass layoffs.

 

The SWAT Team is currently providing support for several major local layoffs including Washington Mutual, who announced in October of this year that, following layoffs at its Bothell call center, it would be laying off another 140 employees in its Lynnwood loan processing center in December. The SWAT team has been assisting Washington Mutual and its affected employees by providing resume critiques for those looking to transfer to job openings within the company, as well as by conducting multiple orientation sessions last month to present the full range of WorkSource system and partner services including those available through the community colleges' Worker Retraining programs. Additionally, the SWAT Team has administered a survey to those affected to determine customized workshop needs and is currently developing a variety of workshops that will focus on issues such as job search, resume writing, and interviewing skills. 

 

The need for cross-county collaboration is especially apparent in the layoff situation within Icos. Eli Lilly announced its plan to purchase the production of the Ciallis product pending Icos Board and Federal approval, with a final decision to be made in January 2007. Should this purchase occur, it was originally estimated that 500 jobs currently in Washington would be transferred to Lilly facilities in Indiana . While representatives from the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County worked with Lilly, Icos, and the Governor's office to determine if resources could be acquired to create job opportunities for these affected workers, the SWAT Team worked with Icos to ensure that employees affected by the layoffs would receive the best in reemployment and training services.

 

To date, three WARNs were issued to approximately 276 Icos employees, primarily affecting administrative workers. Icos employees affected are located at four facilities, two in Snohomish County and two in King County. Even though this layoff is taking place across county lines, he SWAT Team's ability to coordinate has led to seamless service delivery by Seattle-King County and Snohomish County WDC and WARN representatives. In addition to providing standard Rapid Response services, the SWAT Team will be assisting Icos as it holds an internal job fair and identifying other businesses interested in interviewing affected Icos employees.

 

For more information about this exciting project and partnership, please contact Mary Jane Vujovic.