Summary
Many companies, including Amazon, are laying off employees in large numbers. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires big companies to give their employees a 60-day notice before mass layoffs. Workers can look for warning signs like hiring freezes and project pauses to anticipate possible layoffs.
Key Facts
- Amazon recently laid off 14,000 employees to streamline operations.
- The WARN Act requires U.S. companies with 100 or more full-time employees to give a 60-day notice before mass layoffs.
- A mass layoff is defined as 500 or more employees, or 50 or more employees if they make up at least 33% of a site’s workforce.
- Companies must also give notice if at least 50 employees face a work hours reduction of 50% or more expected to last at least six months.
- Employees can check the WARN notice website or WARNTracker for updates on layoffs.
- Signs of possible layoffs include hiring freezes, budget cuts, leadership changes, and sudden project pauses.
- HR consultant Bryan Driscoll and financial literacy instructor Alex Beene highlight uncertainty in the job market and recommend employees stay informed and prepare for potential layoffs.
