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WARN Act Basics for New Employment Attorneys: Guiding Clients Through the Mass Layoff Process

Covered Employers, Triggering Events, Notice Requirements, Interaction With State Mini-WARN Laws

Recording of a 60-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A


Conducted on Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE webinar will provide new employment attorneys with an overview of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act and what it may require of their employer clients who are considering reductions in force (RIFs). The panel will also discuss how state mini-WARN laws may expand employer obligations and offer best practices for guiding employer clients through the RIF process when WARN applies.

Description

When approached by employer clients about the possibility of RIFs or layoffs, one of the first things employment attorneys should consider is whether the WARN Act applies—not only the federal law but also any potential state mini-WARN laws and how they may expand employer obligations. Failure to comply could result in hefty penalties for employers.

The WARN Act requires covered employers to provide 60 days' advance notice of certain plant closings or mass layoffs. Counsel should understand, among other things, which employers are covered, events that trigger WARN's notice requirements, the type of notice required, and potential penalties for WARN violations. Counsel should also be able to advise employer clients on how to evaluate who to let go to avoid unlawful discrimination claims.

Listen as our expert panel provides new employment attorneys with an overview of WARN requirements and offers best practices for guiding employer clients through the layoff process when WARN applies.

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Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. WARN Act overview
    1. Purpose
    2. Covered employers
    3. Affected employees
    4. Triggering events
    5. Notice requirements and exceptions
    6. Enforcement/penalties
  3. State mini-WARN law considerations
  4. Pointers on evaluating who to let go
  5. Best practices for guiding employers through the layoff process

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key considerations:

  • Which employers are covered by the WARN Act?
  • What types of layoffs trigger WARN notice requirements?
  • What are the WARN Act's notice requirements? Are there any exceptions?
  • What are best practices for guiding clients through the layoff process when WARN applies?

Faculty

Prokott, Daniel
Daniel G. Prokott

Partner
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

Mr. Prokott advises businesses regarding complex workplace matters. He represents employers of all sizes, including...  |  Read More

Roupinian, René
René S. Roupinian

Founding Partner
Raisner Roupinian

Since 2002, Ms. Roupinian has devoted her practice to the litigation of federal and state Worker Adjustment and...  |  Read More

Access Anytime, Anywhere

Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

CLE On-Demand Video