California Layoffs: Find Out Here if Your Company is Planning a Layoff
While I do not have a crystal ball to determine the long range planned layoffs of companies in California, the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act provides some help. The WARN Act requires certain employers of industrial or commercial facilities give affected employees at least 60 days advance written notice of a planned plant closing or mass layoff of 50 or more workers.
Below is a link to this database and a description of the WARN Act:
http://www.edd.ca.gov/Jobs_and_Training/Layoff_Services_WARN.htm#ListingofWARNNotices
California Labor Code Section 1403 provides for a possible civil penalty of $500 a day for each day of violation. Employees may receive back pay to be paid at employee’s final rate or 3 year average rate of compensation, whichever is higher. In addition, employer is liable for cost of any medical expenses incurred by employees that would have been covered under an employee benefit plan. The employer is liable for period of violation up to 60 days or one-half the number of days the employee was employed whichever period is smaller.
If you have been laid off and you feel that you were not given proper notification under the WARN Act, it is important to speak to a California labor law attorney to find out what your rights are.
