What is the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)?

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) is a United States federal labor law that offers protection to employees, their families, and communities when layoffs, plant closings, or substantial slowdowns happen. It requires employers of 100 or more employees in the private sector to provide at least a 60-day advance written notice of such events. WARN also applies to public sector organizations with as few as 50 employees. The purpose of WARN is to ensure that employees are not caught off guard when such an event happens. It gives workers and their families the time they need to adjust to the loss of their jobs, look for other employment, and, if necessary, get retraining for new job opportunities. WARN includes specific requirements about the timing and content of the notification that must be provided to both affected workers and government representatives, and provides guidelines about wages and benefits for workers affected by the plant closure or layoff. WARN also requires that employers provide certain benefits to workers, such as providing health insurance for the length of the notice period or making severance pay available. In South Carolina, WARN is enforced by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The Department investigates alleged violations of WARN and, when violations are found, can require an employer to comply withWARN’s requirements. Penalties for violations can include back pay, benefits, and civil money penalties of up to $500 per day.

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What is the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)?

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