What is the WARN act?
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a federal law that provides job security for employees in Kansas and other states. It requires employers to give affected employees a 60-day notice of intended layoffs or plant closures. It also requires employers to provide certain benefits to those affected by the notice. The WARN Act applies to employers with 100 or more employees, including those who are part-time, and applies to most businesses involved in the production of goods. WARN covers state government employers, including cities and counties. Under the WARN Act, employers must provide employees with written notices at least 60 days in advance of any plant closures or mass layoffs if the work force has more than 50 employees or if the layoffs will result in a 33% reduction of the workforce. The notice must state the basis for the closure or layoff and the expected date. Employers must also provide information about the available job retraining and employment programs. Employers who do not comply with the WARN Act can face penalties, including paying employees’ back wages, benefits, and cover their reasonable costs for relocation. In addition, the employer may be liable for civil and criminal penalties, including a fine of up to $500 per day for each employee not given the required notice. The WARN Act helps protect employees from sudden layoffs or plant closures and allows them time to find other employment opportunities or attend job retraining programs. It is important to note that the WARN Act is a federal law and does not override state labor laws.
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