If your company is experiencing financial difficulties, the Rapid Response Team can assist in exploring alternatives to layoffs. If layoffs cannot be averted, the team can ease the impact by coordinating customized transition support services for impacted workers.  Prior to layoff, the Rapid Response Team can provide either virtual or in-person “Early Intervention” sessions where employees can learn about unemployment insurance benefits, one-on-one job development, training funds to update or develop new skills, on-the-job training incentives for employers to hire you, health insurance options, and other supportive services that provide help, advocacy, and support to dislocated workers and their families. The Team also offers on-site or virtual job search and related workshops and assistance in coordinating targeted career fairs.  Contact the Rapid Response Unit at 860-263-6580 or dol.rapidresponse@ct.gov for more information.

Dislocated workers include individuals who have been, or will be laid, off due to a plant closure or substantial layoff, laid-off or terminated workers who are eligible for unemployment and are unlikely to return to their previous industry or occupation, displaced homemakers, and self-employed individuals who are unemployed because of general economic conditions or a natural disaster, and some unemployed/underemployed active-duty military spouses.

Dislocated Worker services include one-on-one job development, individualized career coaching, possible training funds to update or develop new skills, on-the-job training incentives for employers to hire Dislocated Workers who lack certain skills, and possible supportive services such as Childcare and transportation assistance.

All services are free of charge.

Contact your local Workforce Development Boards or visit your nearest American Job Center.

No. The Dislocated Worker program is not an entitlement program. Funding for training is based on individual need and funds availability. Only programs on the Eligible Training Provider List (CTHires - ETPL Approved Programs) can be funded and be pre-approved as there is no reimbursement for out-of-pocket training expenses.   

If you are enrolled in a training program that has been pre-approved by the Department of Labor, you can continue to collect Unemployment Compensation (up to the full 26 weeks only) and be exempt from the work search requirements while you are in training as long as you are able and available to work.

No. When a training plan has been approved, the Dislocated Worker program operator writes a grant with the training facility for the cost of tuition and related fees. Since funds go directly to the school, and not the Dislocated Worker, no reimbursement can be made.

No. If you have been given an individual layoff notice, you can investigate your Dislocated Worker eligibility immediately.

No.

Yes. Click here to register for an upcoming Layoff Transition Support webinar:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M63-8b-6T2K-Z2VK5NfnkQ