What is the purpose of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act?

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is primarily designed to protect workers by requiring employers to provide advance notice of significant layoffs and facility closings. While the chosen answer highlights the provision of severance packages, the Act does indirectly influence this by prompting employers to communicate upcoming job displacements to help employees prepare for the transition, which may include exploring severance options.

The key aspect of the WARN Act is its requirement for employers to notify employees at least 60 days in advance of covered plant closings and mass layoffs. This advance notice helps to facilitate planning for those affected and can lead to the implementation of severance packages as part of an employer's response to layoffs. Thus, while the Act itself does not specifically mandate severance packages, it creates a framework that encourages employers to consider them during workforce reductions.

Overall, the underlying purpose of the WARN Act is to give employees time to adjust to the loss of employment and seek alternative employment, rather than merely focusing on severance or retirement options.