About the Course
Introduction
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.
Presented By
Mr. Prokott advises businesses regarding complex workplace matters. He leads Faegre Drinker’s global HR compliance, training and transactions team, and represents employers of all sizes across a variety of industries, including multinational publicly traded and privately owned companies, established and emerging private businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Prokott also regularly advises individual executives and management teams in connection with negotiating and drafting employment and separation agreements.
Since 2002, Ms. Roupinian has devoted her practice to the litigation of federal and state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act cases and related claims, representing tens of thousands of employees terminated without sufficient notice. Ms. Roupinian’s practice is national and a majority of her cases are initiated as class actions and frequently filed in bankruptcy court as adversary proceedings. She has litigated more than 200 WARN Act cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and judgments. In 2017, Ms. Roupinian and her partner won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on behalf of 1,800 terminated truck drivers. Czyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp., 137 S. Ct. 973, 977, 197 L. Ed. 2d 398 (2017). The decision has been hailed as one of the top ten most important decisions in bankruptcy law.
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This 60-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.0 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
I. Introduction
II. WARN Act overview
A. Purpose
B. Covered employers
C. Affected employees
D. Triggering events
E. Notice requirements and exceptions
F. Enforcement/penalties
III. State mini-WARN law considerations
IV. Pointers on evaluating who to let go
V. Best practices for guiding employers through the layoff process
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?
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