GIVING FAIR WARNING

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), passed by Congress in 1988, requires that employers provide notice 60 days in advance of mass layoffs of 500 or more workers at a site or at sites of 50-499 workers where 33 percent or more are affected. The notice must be provided to affected workers or their union representatives as well as to the California Dislocated Worker Unit and the appropriate unit of local government. The law is designed to protect workers, their families and communities from sudden, unannounced layoffs.

The California Layoff Protection Act improved upon the federal WARN Act in several ways.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WARN ACT

Side-by-side comparison of the federal and state WARN laws

Information from the State of CA on the WARN Act and California Layoff Protection Act

See WARN notices filed with the State of CA

Think your employer has violated the WARN Act? Contact WED Staff for more information: 510-663-4080

A LOCAL APPROACH TO RAPID RESPONSE

Rapid Response units have been created under the Workforce Investment Act in every state to address the impact of sudden and massive unemployment. In most states these units operate only at the state level. California has provided dislocated worker funds to local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to defray the cost of prompt services to dislocated workers. Each local area has at least one Rapid Response coordinator, who follows up on announced layoffs and coordinates services with the state, the local One-Stop, the employer and the union.

THE GOAL OF A LAYOFF-RESPONSE PROGRAM IS TO HELP LAID-OFF WORKERS:

• Maximize support during transition to a new job
• Assess their interests and skills
• Set new goals
• Retrain for new careers
• Find good jobs and
• Retain good jobs

CONTACT YOUR STATE RAPID RESPONSE COODINATOR click for a list of statewide Rapid Response Coordinators who can help workers access benefits offered by the state

Find a UNITED WAY Labor Community Services rep through a local labor council