Every year thousands of hard-working Americans lose their jobs without proper notification. Employers order sudden layoffs and shutdowns in healthcare, biotech, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, retail, food services, indeed, across all fields. Whether due to upheavals in the economy, swings in the markets, outsourcing, financial mismanagement, fraudulent activity, or simply lack of planning, these corporate decisions leave workers to pick up the pieces.
Some employees first learn their jobs are gone when they arrive at work and find the parking lot shut or the building doors padlocked. They may be marched out of the building mid-day or told to pack up, leave and never return on a Friday or the eve of a holiday.
When the word comes down like that, it’s a shock and life changing. After decades of work, employees may be forced to learn a new trade or skill - suddenly faced with the task of breaking into a new career. Employees just starting to climb up the corporate ladder must reinvent themselves in a freefall. Families who relied on that paycheck must scramble to make ends meet. Medical bills go unpaid. They may have no choice but to seek government assistance. It is a situation that many people never thought would happen to them.
The WARN Act cannot stop these job losses. But, it is a “pause” button. Before employers can start laying off employees or closing the facility, they must deliver employees a notice and wait 60 days before going ahead.
The notice and waiting period provide employees valuable lead time to prepare for the changed reality before it hits. It gives them a two-month period in which to begin lining up a new job, or retrain, or just figure out how to cope If notice is not given, the WARN Act requires the employer pay the terminated employees 60 days’ pay and benefits, which represents the “breathing room” employees were denied when they were terminated without advance notice.
Although the circumstances of every plant closing are different, there are some signs that a closing may occur. Employees sense changes are afoot when the premises are invaded by strangers in suits, executives become distant, or unexplained changes occur in policies or work load. Other red flags that signal layoffs are coming include:
Despite the possible “warning signs” that may cause astute employees to start dusting off their resumes, Congress took away the guess work when it enacted the WARN Act. Instead of employees having to anxiously speculate over what the “writing on the wall” says, the WARN Act compels employers to spell it out in a plainly-worded, written notice delivered to each employee.
Oftentimes, the “tea leaves” indicate a sale of the company is afoot. Sales often involve a mass layoff or closure of facilities. In those situations, the question is ‘who is responsible for giving WARN notice?’ The answer depends on who owned the company when the layoff occurred. If the shutdown or layoff occurs before the sale closed, then the current owner-seller would be held responsible for giving the WARN notice. If the new owner took over and initiated the mass layoff just after the closing, then it may be held responsible not giving the employees their 60 days’ notice. But, if the deal falls apart, it does not mean the parties can blame each other and ignore the law. The original owner is usually subject to liability.
You have the right to notice if you are covered by WARN. But, because WARN’s definitions and rules are complex, the only way to know your rights is by contacting experienced WARN Act practitioners, such as the Outten & Golden attorneys. They can help you if you have lost your job in a mass layoff or shutdown to determine whether you are entitled to money from your former employer.
Consult with an Outten & Golden lawyer to determine whether you may have a claim. Just send us your contact info or give us a call.
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