WARN reporting requirements
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires companies planning a mass layoff to notify workers 60 days before the closure.
WARN compliance information
U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) provides compliance guidelines for layoff notification requirements.
- Use USDOL's compliance assistance page for more information.
- Use a USDOL WARN advisor wizard to determine if notification is required.
How to report a layoff
Companies must provide written notice to the Employment Security Department and to the chief elected official of the community where the layoff or closure will occur.
1. Write a letter on company letterhead, to attach in an email, that includes the following:
- Company name
- Physical and mailing address of layoff or closure
- Company represenatative name and phone number for rapid response services (local preferred)
- Mention if the WARN is either a layoff or a closure
- Mention if the WARN is either temporary or permanent
- Expected layoff date and a schedule of any further employment reductions
- Total number of employees affected by this notice
- Job titles of positions and the number of affected employees in each job category
- Mention if the affected employees are represented by a union.
- If so, name of each union/employee representative and the name and address of the chief elected officer of each union
- A statement of bumping rights, if any exist
- Signature of company official including name and title
2. Email and mail the letter to our Grants Management Office:
Employment Security Department
Grants Management Office
Attention: WARN Team
PO Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
Email: ESDGPWorkforceInitiatives@ESD.WA.GOV (Please include "WARN" on the subject line.)
Employment Security will contact the listed company represenative (local) to acknowledge the receipt of the notification and provide this information to the local rapid response team.
3. Send a letter to the chief elected official of the community where the layoff or closure will occur
Additional mass-layoff information
- Go to the U.S. Department of Labor's WARN fact sheet to get complete details about WARN
- Go to our WARN page to see a list of Washington employers who announced layoffs or closures
- Learn about our services available to dislocated workers
- Read our privacy statement