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

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) is a federal law that protects workers and communities from economic dislocation caused by large-scale layoffs or plant closings. WARN requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice to their employees, state and local officials of plant closings or mass layoffs. WARN also applies to certain “faltering companies” with fewer than 100 employees. The WARN Act requires employers to give affected employees, unions, and local government officials a 60-days’ notice of a layoff, closure, or job loss resulting from a relocation or sale of a business. The Act also requires employers to provide a brief explanation of why the closure or layoff is taking place. In California, WARN statutes require employers of 75 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of plant closings and mass layoffs. The California WARN Act is stricter than the federal law, as it requires employers to provide affected employees with one-half of their regular pay for every two weeks of employment for each two weeks notice not provided. WARN provides some protection to workers who may be affected by layoffs. It also helps communities prepare for the economic impact of large-scale job losses. By providing advance notice, workers can plan for unemployment or job training to help them find a new job. To ensure compliance with the law, employers in California should be aware of the WARN Act and its requirements.

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