The WARN Act: Top Coronavirus Questions Answered by Lawyers

Many companies have turned to their employment lawyers to understand their legal duties to notify workers about mass layoffs now that the novel coronavirus has forced them to drastically reduce business or shutdown entirely.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act—commonly known as the WARN Act—requires employers to provide at least 60 days’ notice to workers before a plant closure or “mass layoff” that will last more than six months. Employers that violate the law can be liable for back pay, benefits, and a civil penalty of $500 per day. The Labor Department’s pending WARN Act guidance is undergoing legal ...