Advice for Businesses in Dealing with the Expanding Coronavirus Events

The WARN Act and Similar State Laws

March 16, 2020

Eric Keller, Stephen Harris & Marc Bernstein

Click here to read the WARN Act and Similar State Laws client alert

As employers around the globe prepare their businesses and workforces for the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, some of these employers will face the prospect of layoffs, reduction in pay or hours or other workforce reductions that implicate the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ("WARN") Act and similar state laws, even if such actions are anticipated to be temporary. This Client Alert first provides an overview of the federal WARN Act and commentary regarding differences with certain mini-WARN provisions. Next, the Client Alert analyzes several exceptions and strategies that may be available to mitigate WARN Act risks.