Workforce Services for Businesses

Layoff and Closure Services

Companies and businesses face great challenges to their stability as they attempt to remain competitive in today's increasingly globalized and highly competitive economy. Sometimes they have to resort to a layoff of workers, or even business closure.

How the Department of Labor and Regulation Can Help

The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation offers many resources to both businesses and individuals in the event of a downsizing, laying-off of workers or closure of a facility. If layoffs do become necessary, the statewide network of job service offices can help employees.

Rapid Response

Rapid Response is a pro-active, business-focused, and flexible strategy designed for two major purposes. First, to help growing companies access an available pool of skilled workers from other companies that are downsizing or who have been trained in the skills your company needs to be competitive.

Second, to respond to layoffs and plant closings by quickly coordinating services and providing immediate aid to companies and their affected workers. Rapid Response teams will work with employers and any employee representative(s) to quickly maximize public and private resources to minimize the disruptions on companies, affected workers, and communities that are associated with job loss. Rapid Response can provide customized services on-site at an affected company, accommodate any work schedules, and assist companies and workers through the painful transitions associated with job loss.

Benefit to Employers

Providing Rapid Response services to your workers during layoffs or plant closings will result in multiple benefits to you as an employer. The more quickly the Rapid Response strategy is implemented, the better off your company and workers will be.
Rapid Response teams can also provide information to companies with regard to any state or federal requirements or laws for notification, including the Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

Benefits to Your Workers

The decision to lay off employees is one no employer wants to make. However, as layoffs do occur, inviting Rapid Response teams to meet with affected workers prior to the layoff will allow your employees to access services and programs that will help them through this difficult time.

Rapid Response teams can provide your employees with information and services such as: The use of computers, telephones, and fax machines for job searches; financial planning and stress management workshops; financial support for training; income support if jobs were lost due to foreign trade; and special services for veterans and adults with disabilities.

Additionally, Rapid Response on-site meetings will introduce your workers to representatives of many other programs that can help them through this transition. Perhaps the most important of these partners is your local Department of Labor and Regulation. It is designed to bring together many separate partners to seamlessly provide an array of services, from resume preparation to job search to placement to supportive services, to anyone who wishes to have access to these services.

Contact your job service office for additional information on the benefits of Rapid Response and other services for your company, or to provide notice of an impending layoff.

Rapid Response Resources

Reemployment Assistance Benefits page

WIOA Pre-Application quick guide (PDF)

Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN)

The purpose of the WARN Act is to provide notice to workers so alternative employment or necessary training can be obtained on a timely basis. The WARN Act requires employers with at least 100 employees to provide written notice at least 60 days before ordering a plant closing or mass layoff to affected employees. South Dakota does not have any additional requirements beyond what the U.S. Department of Labor requires for a WARN to be issued. For more information regarding the WARN Act please visit the U.S. Department of Labor's website or contact your job service office.

View the WARN notices received in South Dakota.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal program that assists U.S. workers who have lost or may lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The TAA program is one option for employers who are concerned about their employees’ futures. The program can help workers explore options and employers can retain their workforce during the transition. Since 1975, the TAA program has served more than 2 million U.S. workers. For more information, please visit our TAA webpage or contact your job service office.

Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary