What are the rights of an employee who is being laid off?

In Washington, an employee who is being laid off has certain rights under employment law. As an employee, you have a right to receive notification of intent to lay off at least 30 days before being laid off. Your employer must also provide written notice of the reason for the layoff, the date of the layoff, the amount of severance pay, and a statement of the rights of the employee. You have the right to receive your final paycheck within seven days of the layoff date. This paycheck should include payment for any unused vacation days, sick days, and other accrued benefits. You also have the right to participate in any unemployment insurance program that your employer has set up as a result of the layoff. In addition, you may be eligible for health insurance under COBRA, a federal law which allows an individual to continue their health insurance coverage through their employer after being laid off. Finally, you have the right to file a wrongful termination claim if you believe that you were laid off for unlawful reasons such as discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or disability. Contacting an employment law attorney can inform you of your rights and explain the process for filing a claim.

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