Tag: WARN

Contender or Pretender? Identifying Both in Sports and at Work

Contender or Pretender? It’s a recurring segment in sports media, and a fun talking point amongst fans, where the debate is whether a team is “for real,” particularly early in the season. Read on to see how contender or pretender can be applied to candidates and employees, alike.

It’s never easy, but Oprah delivers layoff news in person

Last week, entertainment powerhouse and former talk-show host Oprah Winfrey announced that Harpo Studios in Chicago will be closing its doors by the end of the year, resulting in the loss of nearly 200 jobs. In typical Oprah fashion, she delivered the bad news to her employees in person, probably ambling around the room, microphone-in-hand, […]

Q&A on Electronic Employee Records

In this digital age, employers are finding there are brand-new questions they face while trying to stay in legal compliance with employee recordkeeping requirements. For example, what constitutes a valid electronic signature? Does an answer in email count as legally-binding when it comes to confirming managerial decisions? How long do specific types of documents need […]

Can’t We Use the ‘Faltering Company’ Exception for Layoffs?

Well, we’re faltering, you may think, so we don’t have to worry about WARN, but it’s not as simple as that. Exceptions to the WARN Act Notice Requirements The WARN Act’s notice requirements do not apply if the conditions of one of the following exceptions are met: Temporary facility Completion of a particular project when […]

Employers Now Allowed To Email WARN Notifications to EDD

California employers may now submit their WARN notices to the EDD via email. According to the EDD, the goal is to provide employers with a business-friendly option for satisfying WARN requirements. The new email option should also allow for the faster receipt and processing of WARN information by the EDD, which will enable the EDD […]

Tips for Minimizing Risk When Cutting Labor Costs

by Mark Wiletsky Although we’re beginning to see signs of an economic recovery, many organizations are still grappling with how to stay competitive in this challenging environment. Layoffs, furloughs, and other methods used to cut personnel costs are often part of the equation. But the savings gained by those cost-cutting measures can be lost if […]

Top Employment Issues for States in 2009: Part 1 – WARN Acts, Immigration, ADA, and Unemployment Insurance

The nation’s economy and its impact on state budgets will be the overriding factor state legislatures address in 2009. Many states have already attacked their budget shortfalls by delaying projects, implementing hiring freezes, eliminating positions, and cutting programs. With predictions of continued shortfalls in 2009, state budgets will be first on the agenda for lawmakers. […]

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls During RIFs and When Reducing Workers’ Hours

by John Vering On Oct. 3, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ reported that over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed has increased by 2.2 million and the unemployment rate has risen by 1.4 percentage points. Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 159,000 in September and thus far in 2008, payroll employment has […]

Branch Closing

LITIGATION VALUE: $150,000 in defense costs — unless (and that is a big unless) the WARN Act applies. Call me crazy, but announcing “we’re screwed” is not the best way to tell employees that the Company is closing down its branch. Not only does it create turmoil among the employees, but it comes nowhere close […]