Layoffs

Brush up on WARN Act rules; fed report prompts more scrutiny

12/01/2003

Count on hearing more about the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act in the coming months. Reason: Employers comply with the law (which requires 60-days’ notice of mass layoffs or …

Scrutinize true reasons for layoff; then banish all inconsistencies

11/01/2003

No one likes to choose among employees for company-mandated layoffs. But if you’re given this task, research and recommend choices with defensible reasons that you can back up. Don’t manufacture termination …

You can’t outsource your WARN Act notice obligations

10/01/2003

If your company outsources HR tasks, don’t expect the outside provider to share the rap for a Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act violation, the law that requires certain companies …

Promote the value of your benefits plan

08/01/2003

Studies show that employees who keep their jobs after a round of layoffs tend to view their benefits package less highly. Nip that attitude in the bud by distributing a personalized …

Give employees advance notice of severance plans, waivers

05/01/2003

Don’t spring severance-plan details on employees right before a layoff. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) says you must give employees advance notice …

Beware unintended bias against unmarried workers, applicants

03/01/2003

A new study gives your single employees and applicants new ideas for a lawsuit. The study by consultant Challenger, Gray and Christmas says unmarried people …

Shutdown caused by sudden loss of business won’t trigger WARN Act

02/01/2003

An automobile-parts manufacturer got a jolt when a major customer refused to pay for a shipment and ceased all future orders without warning. That forced the manufacturer …

Don’t stray from layoff procedures

01/01/2003

A 65-year-old employee was laid off as part of a reduction in force. She claimed her supervisor had made age-related comments, and the company failed to follow its published RIF criteria …

The WARN Act: Notify staff before large-scale layoffs

10/01/2002

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires certain employers to give employees 60 days notice before a plant closing or mass layoff. Some states also have plant-closure laws that add additional mandates.

Be consistent in reasons for layoffs

09/01/2002

When a Wisconsin company restructured, it laid off a 44-year-old customer service rep. None of her direct supervisors or co-workers took part in deciding which employees would be laid off. But …