Warn Act

Warn Act

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a U.S. federal law that requires certain employers to give advance notice before large layoffs or plant closings. It generally requires 60 days' written notice to affected employees, their representatives, and local government when a covered employer plans a qualifying mass layoff or closure. The law mostly covers private employers with 100 or more employees and applies when a set number or percentage of workers are going to lose their jobs. There are exceptions, such as sudden, unforeseeable business circumstances or when a company is actively seeking capital to avoid a shutdown. The main goal of the WARN Act is to give workers, families, and communities time to prepare, apply for benefits, and look for new work or training. If an employer fails to provide required notice, workers may be entitled to back pay and benefits for the notice period. Many states have their own laws that mirror or expand on the federal rules, so protections can vary depending on where you live. Knowing how the law works matters because large, sudden layoffs can cause serious economic and social disruption, and advance notice helps reduce harm and encourage more careful planning.