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When Adam Orosco and his coworkers were informed last February that Hubbell Armorcast was closing its Ontario plant, they were faced with life-changing decisions.
Though Hubbell Armorcast had provided ample notice and even offered employees an opportunity to interview at other company locations across the nation, for many of them, it was not feasible to uproot their lives and families, so they turned to the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) for help.
In the event of a layoff, such as this one, WDB and its Rapid Response team provide the information, tools and resources to seamlessly connect displaced workers to their next employment opportunities. WDB receives a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN notices, and quickly mobilizes staff and partners to connect workers being laid off to local companies and organizations that are actively hiring.
WDB also partners with various Chambers of Commerce in the county to increase capacity and timeliness to even better serve displaced workers. In this case, the Fontana Chamber of Commerce worked with WDB to quickly assist 25 of the displaced Hubbell workers.
WDB and chamber staff held multiple career fairs, provided job search and resume assistance, and gathered information on the positions being eliminated to begin matching them with comparable opportunities around the region. Sixteen of the displaced workers were placed at Crown Technical Systems; the other nine at Pacific Forge.
“They were very helpful in making sure we were being connected to the right job for us individually. They also offered us bus passes, even work boots, if we needed them,” Orosco said.
Now at Crown Technical as a Leadman, Orosco has more flexibility and learning opportunities. In his previous position at Hubbell, he worked the night shift. In his new job, the father of four and recent grandfather is thrilled to have the morning shift, which has allowed him to volunteer to coach his kids’ baseball teams again, as well as spend time with his grandbaby. He also appreciates how Crown has been so supportive and willing to help in any way they can.
“Many of us are new here, and they really take the time to train us as much as we need,” Orosco said.
His story mirrors that of hundreds of workers across the county who have benefitted from WDB’s Rapid Response program. Late last year, after nearly 300 workers were abruptly laid off from United Furniture Industries (UFI) in Victorville, WDB and its High Desert partners immediately sprang into action, contacting local employers, such as Ashley Furniture, Big Lots, Walmart and Plastipak Packaging, to begin placing the affected UFI employees.
“By collaborating with community partners, such as Chambers of Commerce, we are able to better serve our community when they need us most. Services like our Rapid Response events are critical to someone who cannot afford to miss even one paycheck,” said Third District Supervisor and Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe.
In addition to job and career placement, WDB resources include individualized job search and resume assistance, and connection with Veterans services, skills certifications, on-the-job training, financial assistance for training, information on unemployment benefits, COBRA, 401(k) options, the Affordable Care Act, child support assistance, and more. For more information on Workforce Development Board programs, call: (800) 451-JOBS (5627), visit one of our County’s three America’s Job Centers of California, or go to our website.
About the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The WDB strives to strengthen the skills of the County’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is committed to providing County resources, which generate jobs and investment in line with the Countywide Vision.
The WDB, through the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department, offers a variety of programs designed to help youth and adults identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills. Programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provide eligible youth, ages 16 to 24, access to a variety of career and educational services designed to help enhance job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options, participate in adult and peer mentoring opportunities, and take advantage of work experiences. In addition, the WDB operates San Bernardino County’s three America's Job Centers of California (AJCC). The AJCCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The AJCCs also support and provide services to the County's businesses, including employee recruitment and business retention programs, and a free Human Resource hotline (877-282-3763) is available to answer any HR, employment and compliance-related inquiries and more.
Employers and job seekers interested in WDB programs may call (800) 451-JOBS (5627), visit our website, the WDB YouTube page and follow us @SBCWorkforce.
WDB’s job and resource fairs are a Title-1 financially assisted program and an equal opportunity employer program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding disclosure information, visit wp.sbcounty.gov/workforce/ffd/.