HANFORD LAYOFFS: Unemployed workers refuse to get help
KENNEWICK, Wash. -- A year after the Hanford layoffs, KEPR is digging deeper into how laid off workers fared.
The news was fast and devastating: three thousand people were laid off from Hanford, with little prospect of finding new work.
"You think about food on the table and paying bills... it gets you a little stressed out," says Kelly Lovelett.
For Lovelett, the paperwork is extensive and the implications are huge. The laid-off Hanford worker has never been unemployed before. Facing an uncertain path, she turned to Worksource for help.
"If there are people who are willing to give you a hand in looking for a job, why not take advantage of it?" she asks.
Worksource would love to know the answer to that question. Even though Lovelett came to get help, KEPR learned few other laid-off Hanford workers have. This year, only 140 people laid off at the area have through these doors. That's less than five percent of those affected.
It's a case of too long, too late. Stricken by budget cuts, Worksource originally didn't have the money to handle all of Hanford's laid-off workers. So, organizers applied for a state grant. The money arrived nine months later. By that time, many unemployed workers had given up looking for work and possibly moved away.
Worksource received one million dollars to help only Hanford's workers. The grant will end in March. With an additional 300 people expected to lose jobs at Hanford later this year, Worksource is encouraging people to come in as soon as possible.
The news was fast and devastating: three thousand people were laid off from Hanford, with little prospect of finding new work.
"You think about food on the table and paying bills... it gets you a little stressed out," says Kelly Lovelett.
For Lovelett, the paperwork is extensive and the implications are huge. The laid-off Hanford worker has never been unemployed before. Facing an uncertain path, she turned to Worksource for help.
"If there are people who are willing to give you a hand in looking for a job, why not take advantage of it?" she asks.
Worksource would love to know the answer to that question. Even though Lovelett came to get help, KEPR learned few other laid-off Hanford workers have. This year, only 140 people laid off at the area have through these doors. That's less than five percent of those affected.
It's a case of too long, too late. Stricken by budget cuts, Worksource originally didn't have the money to handle all of Hanford's laid-off workers. So, organizers applied for a state grant. The money arrived nine months later. By that time, many unemployed workers had given up looking for work and possibly moved away.
Worksource received one million dollars to help only Hanford's workers. The grant will end in March. With an additional 300 people expected to lose jobs at Hanford later this year, Worksource is encouraging people to come in as soon as possible.
Worksource is USELESS. Unless you are Hispanic or dont speak a word of English OR are willing to take a part time minimum wage job they cannot and will not help you. I know people who use worksource for months at a time trying to get job leads and they never so much as get an interview. The last time I used those idiots I was encouraged to take a part time fast food job "because that's all that I was qualified for" after 10 years in the construction trade and with a business degree I was only eligible to flip burgers. What a joke.
 This year, only 140 people laid off at the area have through these doors.
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Worksource received one million dollars to help only Hanford's workers.
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Sounds like worksource is the one making the money.
I have known several people that have gone to worksource looking for jobs, But worksource refuse to give them job info about jobs that the unemployed people would like to look into. One of them is an Iraq vet in good health. The ONLY jobs they have given him leads for are JANITORIAL jobs. SAD!!!! One day he is in Iraq, Then he comes home and the BEST job worksource will offer him is JANITORIAL work. Maybe the problem is the REPUTATION worksource has.