Submitted by Traci Holt

Lassen Career Network
2545 Main Street, Susanville, CA 96130
(530) 257-5057
www.aworkforce.org

 

One-Stop Activities


Agency Fair

On October 14th, staff from many of the public and not for profit agencies joined forces to host an Agency Fair. The purpose of the Agency Fair was to acquaint staff from each agency with others, so that everyone has a complete understanding of the human services available to residents of Lassen County.

AFWD participated in the Agency Fair to promote the Workforce Investment Act services. Overall it was a great experience for those that attended. Each and everyone of us walked away with a better understanding of the services available in Lassen County.


AFWD's informational booth at the Agency Fair.

 

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Complying with California's New Law AB1825

The law states that as of January 1, 2006, employers who regularly employee 50 or more full -time, part-time, temporary and/or contract employees must provide at least 2 hours of harassment training and education to all supervisors employed as of July 1, 2005. The training must take place every two years thereafter. New supervisors must be trained within 6 months of hire or promotion.

To help local businesses save time and money, the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. (AFWD), and Plumas Bank joined forces to provide the required training locally. The training was held in the Willow Room of the Diamond Mountain Casino.

Mark Vegh, a Labor and Employment Law Attorney, with Carr, Kennedy, Peterson & Frost in Redding provided this valuable training to local businesses on November 16, 2005 and then again on December 6, 2005. A total of 100 businesses attended the trainings.

Mark will be back in May 2006 and November 2006 in Susanville to provide the training in order to capture those that did not receive the training or for newly hired/promoted managers or supervisors. For more information on the upcoming trainings, please contact Holly Schirmer at 257-2586 or email Holly at hschirmer@ncen.org


Mark Vegh, presenting to the December class.

 

AFWD All Staff Meeting

AFWD staff met at the Monticola Club in Susanville on November 8th and 9th for a All-Staff Meeting. The main purpose of the meeting was to expand on the information gathered at the NoRTEC Meeting in October and to go over WIA services, enrollments, eligibility.

Gary Corderman, Executive Director for AFWD opened the meeting, followed by an overview of health benefits provided by Etzler Financial. Later in the day, Gary facilitated a group discussion regarding AFWD's mission and shared values. All staff provided input into AFWD's mission and shared values. By the close of the day, all participants had provided input into a revised mission statement and shared values.

For a review of AFWD's revised mission statement and shared values please click here.

The second day of training consisted of building upon the information provided at the NoRTEC training. The theme of the NoRTEC meeting was for increased enhancement and integration of the job seeker and business service teams.

AFWD staff were grouped by county and asked to come up with three ideas for increased integration of the teams to support our WIA services. By the end of the training, each county had specific action plans for what they were going to do to better integrate and enhance the job seeker and business services teams.


Gary Corderman opening remarks at the All Staff training.

New Office Opens in Herlong

In response to the Lear Siegler layoff and the increased dislocated worker enrollments in Herlong, AFWD opened a satellite office. The office, located at 2067 California Street, Herlong is staffed Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's from 9am-1pm. Job seekers can receive assistance with job leads, creating resumes, interviewing techniques and exploring career change at the new office.


Job Board for dislocated workers at the Herlong office.

Rapid Response Update

The Rapid Response Team has been very busy during the past 3 months. The first significant layoff occurred on October 3rd with the layoff of 49 workers from Lear Siegler. A second round of layoffs occurred on November 1st, which included an additional 25 employees.

Summary of Lear Siegler Activities:
Our Rapid Response Team went into immediate action on Monday, October 3rd. The number of laid off employees during the 1st round of layoffs was 49. We began our outreach services immediately and provided orientations on a group and one-on-one basis.

We were then notified on October 31st, that another round of layoffs(additional 25 employees)was scheduled for November 1st. Again, the Rapid Response team went in to action and began providing orientations on November 3rd and 4th. Lear Siegler was very helpful in providing AFWD with names and contact information for all of the 74 laid off workers.



Small group orientation for Lear Siegler laid off employees.

Summary of Sierra Army Depot Activities:
 On November 29, 2005 we were notified by Sierra Army Depot that the Commander of the Base was conducting a work flow analysis due to the lack of work for Sierra Army Depot. Included in the work flow analysis, was the strong possibility that an entire division of employees could be laid off in January 2006. A total of 179 employees could be affected by the lack of funding and projects for Sierra Army Depot. The lay off date is scheduled for January 21, 2006.

Sierra Army Depot worked closely with AFWD in determining whether or not they should issue a WARN Notice. In addition, the Depot was very interested in the dislocated worker services provided through the Workforce Investment Act.

A town hall meeting was ordered by the base Commander on January 4, 2006. AFWD, along with EDD and Lassen Works was invited to provide an overview of services to all 179 affected employees.

On January 9th and 10th, the Rapid Response team conducted on-site orientations to each of the affected individuals. The orientations began at 8am and were conducted each hour until Noon on each day. A total of 145 employees were oriented to the services offered by the Rapid Response Team.

To date, AFWD continues to work very closely with the Depot and is ready to respond.


Lt. Colonel Brian Butler addressing employees at the Town Hall meeting.

 

During the past 3 months, we have been very busy with Rapid Response activities. In addition to Lear Siegler and Sierra Army Depot activities, the following businesses have closed:

 

Upcoming Events


January 10-13th - Labor Law Seminars(Lassen, Plumas and Modoc Counties)
January 17th - Website Workshop
January 20th - New Job Board for One-Stop
January 19th - Lassen County Chamber of Commerce Presentation
January 23rd - Northeastern Rural Health Clinic Recruiting