Rapid Response Program and Resources
What is Rapid Response?
The NH Rapid Response program is designed to assist businesses that are in transition mode. The mission is to provide statewide, early intervention re-employment services at no cost to companies and their employees affected by layoffs and closings. Rapid Response efforts involve teams comprised of local representatives from the 12 NH Works Career Centers which include, but are not limited to NH Employment Security, NH Health and Human Services and the NH Community College System. The goal of the Rapid Response Team is to provide reassurance to workers coping with the emotional, family, and job hunting pressures of unexpected job loss, minimize the financial impact, and assist them to find a new job as quickly as possible or transition to a new career.
At NH Rapid Response, the team recognizes that layoffs affect everyone. The employees who have been laid off, their families, the company, the community, and even those employees who remain on the job. The team works to minimize the disruptions of a major layoff and maximize the opportunity for positive business transitions and growth.
Contact Jimmie Hinson, workforce development administrator, at 603-419-0995 for additional information.
The NH Rapid Response program is designed to assist businesses that are in transition mode. The mission is to provide statewide, early intervention re-employment services at no cost to companies and their employees affected by layoffs and closings. Rapid Response efforts involve teams comprised of local representatives from the 12 NH Works Career Centers which include, but are not limited to NH Employment Security, NH Health and Human Services and the NH Community College System. The goal of the Rapid Response Team is to provide reassurance to workers coping with the emotional, family, and job hunting pressures of unexpected job loss, minimize the financial impact, and assist them to find a new job as quickly as possible or transition to a new career.
At NH Rapid Response, the team recognizes that layoffs affect everyone. The employees who have been laid off, their families, the company, the community, and even those employees who remain on the job. The team works to minimize the disruptions of a major layoff and maximize the opportunity for positive business transitions and growth.
Contact Jimmie Hinson, workforce development administrator, at 603-419-0995 for additional information.
COVID-19 Response Recruitment
New Hampshire Employment Security has launched a new recruitment portal. The new recruitment portal is currently accessed by going to COVID-19 Response Recruitment.
- The portal is free of charge and is available for all New Hampshire employers in all sectors.
- Businesses with openings that they would like to post on the recruitment portal need to complete the attached spreadsheet and send it to NHES using the email address below.
- Please note that:
o Each different job title needs to be listed individually on its own line.
o Positions with multiple openings only need to be listed once. - Once completed it should be sent to covidrecruit@nhes.nh.gov.
- An individual from NHES will then follow-up with you to verify the information provided.
| covid-19_response_recruitment_spreadsheet.xlsx |
Paid Time Off
The strict reading of RSA 275:43 V. requires accrued paid time off to be paid out upon leaving employment. Considering the current situation, the Department has indicated that they would not stand in the way of an agreement between an employee and employer that would allow for a payment plan over time. We would encourage businesses to document the agreement and have the employee sign it for back-up should this come up in the future.
Workers' Compensation
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald issued an official opinion that employers who comply with CDC, State, or industry guidelines are protected from employee personal injury claims for contracting COVID-19 at the workplace. Contraction of the virus is considered a neutral risk and therefore precluded from New Hampshire's workers compensation law. This opinion only applies to employees, not customers. (An opinion by the attorney general is considered the law unless otherwise overturned.)
New Refundable Tax Credits
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020.
The act will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.
For more information about these credits and other relief, visit Coronavirus Tax Relief on IRS.gov. Information regarding the process to receive an advance payment of the credit will be posted next week.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS, and the U.S. Department of Labor plan to implement coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses to swiftly recover the cost of providing coronavirus-related leave. Here is the link to the release.
The act will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.
For more information about these credits and other relief, visit Coronavirus Tax Relief on IRS.gov. Information regarding the process to receive an advance payment of the credit will be posted next week.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS, and the U.S. Department of Labor plan to implement coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses to swiftly recover the cost of providing coronavirus-related leave. Here is the link to the release.
OSHA Guidance
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed various resources to assist business owners in staying safe and educating their staff. Please see links below for more information.
