State WARN Notices: A Reader's Guide

The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act generally requires covered employers to give advance written notice of qualifying plant closings and mass layoffs. Notices go to affected workers or their representatives, the state's dislocated-worker unit and local government. Many states publish the notices they receive, and some states have their own notice laws with different rules. The U.S. Department of Labor explains the federal requirements on its WARN Act page.

• A notice usually describes a planned action. The dates and numbers can change, and a planned layoff is not the same as one that has happened.
• The number on a notice is usually the employer's estimate for one site, not a company-wide total.
• Check the effective date, the location and whether the action is described as permanent or temporary.
• Some job cuts never show up in a WARN notice, for example when they fall below the thresholds that require one.
• State lists can be updated, corrected or withdrawn after they are first posted.

Each state runs its own notice list. Start with the U.S. Department of Labor's WARN resources, which point to state contacts, or search your state labor or workforce agency's website for "WARN notices." If you were affected by a layoff, your state's dislocated-worker services can also help. See our job search and career resources.

When our reporting relies on a WARN notice, the article links to its source and says whether the action is planned or completed. Browse our layoff news and business closure news.

This page is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your rights, contact your state labor agency, the U.S. Department of Labor or a qualified attorney.