In 1989 the federal government enacted the WARN Act, requiring affected employers to notify employees of impending layoffs and plant closures in advance.

WARN protects employees by notifying them in advance of the impending layoffs so that:

• Workers have time to make necessary adjustments and begin looking for new jobs.
  
  
• The free WIA services described in these pages can be made available to employees.
  
  
• WIB staff can work with the employer to try and avert the plant closure or downsizing.

The WARN Act requires employers with 75 (in California AB 2957) or more full-time employees to take certain actions if they are about to:

• Close a facility or operating unit is shut down for more than six months, or when 50 or more employees lose their jobs during any 30-day period at a single site of employment.
  
  
• Lay off 50 to 499 workers, when the layoff constitutes 33% or more of the active work force at a single site.
  
  
• Lay off 500 or more workers at any single site.

In addition, these employers are required to give 60 days advance notice of any layoff. Failure to give such notice can result in an employer liability to pay laid-off employees the 60 days worth of back pay and benefits they would have been entitled to receive had notice been given.