Department of Workforce Development: 701 to be laid off in closure of GeminiCares

SLINGER (WITI) -- The Department of Workforce Development says 701 workers will be affected by the closure of GeminiCares, headquartered in Slinger.

GeminiCares, Inc. will be permanently ending all services at its 11 Wisconsin locations on or before May 31st, 2015, affecting approximately 701 workers.

The Department of Workforce Development will coordinate Rapid Response services with the local Workforce Development Associations to coordinate Rapid Response services to the affected workers.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Dislocated Worker Program provides assistance to workers, companies, and communities affected by mass layoffs or business closings.

Under state law, employers employing 50 or more individuals in the state may be required to give 60 days notice before a mass layoff or closing. Once the state becomes aware of any event affecting 50 or more workers, the Dislocated Worker Program's Rapid Response Team reach out and offer assistance to the affected workers and employer.

DWD Rapid Response staff will:

Affected workers have access to numerous services to help them become re-employed. Basic services, most of which are available to anyone at no charge through the state's Job Centers, include:

More intensive and retraining services can become available for some workers under one or more DWD Workforce development programs. These intensive services can include:

DWD will also look at each dislocation to determine if the workers have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade or competition. If that is the case, workers may be eligible for additional assistance for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Services available under TAA include training, income support while in training, job search allowance and relocation allowance.

Wisconsin spends nearly $40 million annually serving approximately 20,000 dislocated workers in various programs. Wisconsin consistently ranks highly among states in receipt of discretionary federal funding for dislocated workers.