How to find your state's WARN layoff notices (and check for stricter state laws)
Layoff notices under the federal WARN Act are filed with a state dislocated worker unit, so the place to look them up is your state's labor or workforce agency. The U.S. Department of Labor keeps a WARN page that points to state resources. Some states also run their own notice laws, which can set lower thresholds or longer notice periods than the federal rule. Details vary by state and employer, so confirm anything specific with the sources below.
Where are WARN notices published?
Federal law does not create one national database. Each state handles the notices it receives in its own way. Some post a searchable list or spreadsheet, some post PDFs, and some publish little or nothing online. That is why a company can have a notice that is easy to find in one state and hard to find in another.
A practical order for the search:
- Start at the Department of Labor's WARN page and follow the link for your state.
- Search your state labor or workforce agency's website for "WARN" or "layoff notices".
- Check EjectSeat's WARN page, which lists notices from the states we can read so far, alongside the layoffs feed of SEC filings.
- If you cannot find a notice, ask the state dislocated worker unit directly.
What does the federal law require?
In broad terms, the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act:
- Covers employers with 100 or more employees, not counting part-time workers
- Requires 60 calendar days' written notice before a covered plant closing or mass layoff
- Sends notice to affected employees or their union representative, the state dislocated worker unit, and the chief elected official of the local government
- Counts a mass layoff at a single site, generally 50 or more employees making up at least a third of that site's workforce, or 500 or more employees
The full rules are in the federal regulations at 20 CFR Part 639 and the Department of Labor's plant closings and layoffs page.
Do states have their own WARN laws?
Some do. These are often called "mini-WARN" laws. They can differ from the federal rule in who is covered, how many job losses trigger a notice, and how many days of notice are required. A layoff that falls below the federal thresholds may still be covered by a state law, and the reverse can also apply when both laws are in play.
We do not list state-by-state thresholds here, because they change and a wrong number could cost you a claim. Use your state labor department's website for the current rule, and the Department of Labor's WARN page as the starting directory.
Why can't I find a notice for my employer?
There are several common reasons:
- The employer was not covered. Fewer than 100 employees, or job losses below the thresholds at your site.
- The notice is under a different site name. Notices are filed by location, not always by the brand name you know.
- The state publishes with a delay. Notices can appear days or weeks after they are filed.
- The state does not publish online. Some only provide notices on request.
- No notice was given. If a covered employer skipped it, read what the federal law says you may be owed.
What should you do with a notice once you find it?
Check the effective date, the site address and the number of affected employees, and compare them with what your employer told you. The guide to reading a WARN notice explains each field. If you are affected, move quickly on unemployment insurance and review any severance agreement before signing. If you want to gauge risk at a public company, the 8-K Item 2.05 guide shows what companies disclose to the SEC, and the check tool lets you look up an employer.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
What to watch
State agencies add notices on their own schedules, and public companies may disclose restructurings in SEC filings before or after a WARN notice appears. Track both on the EjectSeat layoffs feed.