NEW JERSEY – If you work for a New Jersey company, this news will interest you.
An extension of the WARN Act, (the Worker Retraining Adjustment and Notification Act), took effect Monday in the Garden State and changes the dynamic of mass layoffs at companies with more than 100 employees. .
The new law requires companies to give workers at least 90 days’ notice of downsizing or laying off more than 50 people. These notices are posted on the State Department of Labor website. Previously, notice of collective dismissal was announced at least 60 days in advance. If the employer does not comply, he will have to pay an additional four weeks’ severance pay to the employees affected by the dismissal.
The law also requires full compensation for full-time and part-time workers, unlike the previous law. This guarantees workers one week of severance pay for each year of service when layoffs affect 50 or more workers.
Governor Phil Murphy had signed the measure in February 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the law was delayed. However, the Democrat signed a new bill into law on January 10 of this year, which led to the law taking effect 90 days later, on Monday, April 10.
State Sen. Joseph Cryan was one of the sponsors of the bill, proposing it after large-scale layoffs such as Wayne-based Toys R Us.