The COVID-19 pandemic had, and continues to have, a devastating effect on employment. Many people lost their jobs when employers shuttered their businesses, either temporarily or permanently, or reduced operating hours. Even without the pandemic, employees are laid off every day across the United States for any number of reasons.
Employment in the United States is at will. That means that an employer can let workers go for virtually any reason or no reason at all as long as it is not employment discrimination. Layoffs happen suddenly and without warning in most cases, leaving the laid-off employee shocked and fearful about their future.
In some cases, an employee will be told of an impending layoff. The federally mandated Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers to give at least 60 days’ notice to their affected employees of a company closure or mass layoff. WARN applies to organizations with 100 or more employees. There are some exceptions to the 60-day notice period, including:
Closure due to strike or lockout
A natural disaster such as hurricane, flood, or pandemic
Business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable
If you are laid off, with or without warning, be sure to check out the following rights for which you may be entitled, legal or otherwise.
Some Rights Provided to Laid-Off Employees
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