{"id":13309,"date":"2026-06-12T15:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T20:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=13309"},"modified":"2026-10-30T04:28:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:28:03","slug":"mass-layoffs-reductions-in-force-federal","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/layoffs\/mass-layoffs-reductions-in-force-federal\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass layoffs, reductions in force and plant closings: Federal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">by <strong>Rebecca Sipowicz and Darrell R. VanDeusen<\/strong>, Kollman &amp; Saucier, PA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-summary\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide provides an overview of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, outlining the requirements for employers to give advance notice to employees affected by plant closings or mass layoffs. It discusses the criteria for employer coverage, triggering events and notice requirements, along with exemptions and exceptions under the Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-in-this-guide-learn-about\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this guide, learn about:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">WARN Act\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Employer coverage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Triggering events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Notice requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Exemptions from notice requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Exceptions to advance notice requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Notice distribution requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Additional notice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Effect of other laws and agreements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Penalties and enforcement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Penalties and enforcement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Alternatives to layoffs\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Furloughs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Voluntary attrition programs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Identifying job-related criteria for layoff selection\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Pre-layoff planning and preparation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Future developments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bg-light-blue-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f1e3dc65 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 id=\"h-want-to-see-more\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(16.834px, 1.052rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.881), 26px);font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-bm-inline-sentence is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1ffe0ea6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For full access to our guide:<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin-right:0;margin-left:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Mass layoffs, reductions in force and plant closings: Federal<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">sign up for an HR and Compliance Center subscription today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jurisdiction: Federal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22a7c014 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get ahead of HR compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navigating today\u2019s complex HR compliance landscape is challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get ahead with Brightmine. Access HR resources and automation tools managed by seasoned human HR experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/us\/products\/hr-compliance-center\/#lexisnexis\">Proudly partnered with LexisNexis<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ee76cfc wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"166\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/16090337\/LexisNexis-logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9646\" style=\"width:auto;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=cta|blog|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-64c039dc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-a7dce961 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-20854 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-hr-news topic-employment-law-updates topic-state-compliance\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/california-captive-audience-ban-remains-blocked\/\" target=\"_self\" >California captive-audience ban remains blocked<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-20851 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-c-and-i topic-payroll\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/ask-our-experts-avoiding-payroll-gaps-when-changing-pay-frequency-from-semimonthly-to-biweekly\/\" target=\"_self\" >Ask our experts: Avoiding payroll gaps when changing pay frequency from semimonthly to biweekly<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-20224 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-webinars topic-hr-future\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/hr-future\/top-hr-trends-for-2027-the-next-wave-of-compliance-challenges\/\" target=\"_self\" >Top HR trends for 2027: The next wave of compliance challenges<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 id=\"h-you-may-also-be-interested-in\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-52b6fe3587306dc2618dd319ed2d805e wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter   \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div 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class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Webinars<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/hr-future\/top-hr-trends-for-2027-the-next-wave-of-compliance-challenges\/\">Top HR trends for 2027: The next wave of compliance challenges<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">As 2026 comes to a close, HR leaders face expanding pay transparency requirements, new leave mandates, uncertain immigration &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-84b47954 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9f6a5453 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 id=\"h-topics-on-this-page\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Topics on this page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-topic has-link-color wp-elements-5ec59eb01c09ec2f1d84a6b36973ff83 wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/\" rel=\"tag\">Employment law updates<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/layoffs\/\" rel=\"tag\">Layoffs<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-about-the-authors\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">About the authors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a903a136 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/06\/29074308\/female-speaker-avatar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15354\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:500px;border-top-right-radius:500px;border-bottom-left-radius:500px;border-bottom-right-radius:500px;aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rebecca Sipowicz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rebecca Sipowicz&nbsp;is an attorney with over ten years of experience in civil litigation and employment law. She has extensive experience managing complex litigation such as class actions and residential mortgage litigation, including without limitation, servicing claims, complex contested foreclosures, complex contested evictions, adversary complaints, and affirmative actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ms. Sipowicz has written about business tort law in Massachusetts and has also been published on various antitrust law topics. She received her BA,&nbsp;<em>with distinction<\/em>, from the University of Virginia in 1998 and her JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rebecca-sipowicz-96423a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-primary-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0de5b10e671cb40ffa222578f82f6b6b is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/06\/29074307\/male-speaker-author-avatar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15353\" style=\"border-radius:25px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Darrell R. VanDeusen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/darrell-vandeusen-9411194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Darrell R. VanDeusen<\/a>&nbsp;has over 30 years of experience as a management side labor and employment lawyer. He has extensive experience working with public and private sector employers that confront union organizing, collective bargaining, contract management and arbitration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. VanDeusen has also taught employment law, employment discrimination law, and legal writing at the University of Baltimore Law School. He regularly writes on labor and employment law, and his treatise on the FMLA, available through LexisNexis, has been cited by federal appellate courts as authoritative on the subject.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide provides an overview of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, including employer coverage, triggering events, notice requirements, and compliance considerations for mass layoffs and plant closings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":12592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[118],"tags":[],"topic":[63,72],"class_list":["post-13309","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-law-guides","topic-employment-law-updates","topic-layoffs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - 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