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The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires certain employers to provide written notice at least 60 calendar days before a mass layoff, relocation or plant closure. Advance notice provides workers employment transition time to seek alternative employment, apply for unemployment benefits, and enter skill training or retraining programs.
Accordion section
The WARN Act applies to employers that have employed 75 or more full-time or part-time employees within the previous 12 months.
A WARN notice is required when an employer plans any of the following actions affecting a single worksite:
- Layoff of 50 or more employees within a 30-day period
- Plant or facility closure
- Relocation of operations by at least 100 miles
Written notice must be provided at least 60 days before the first separation to all required parties:
- Affected Employees: Notice must be provided using a delivery method that ensures receipt.
- Employment Development Department (EDD): Email the notice to EDDWarnNotice@edd.ca.gov and include the employer’s name in the subject line. Attach the notice as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf and include employer contact information in the email body.
- Orange County Board of Supervisors: Notify the Supervisor for each district affected by the layoff, closure, or relocation. If multiple districts are affected, notify each applicable Supervisor. Use the Find My District tool to identify the appropriate Supervisor(s).
- Chief Elected Official: Notify the chief elected official for each affected city. If multiple cities are affected, notify each applicable official. Use the Find My District tool to identify the appropriate official(s).
- Local Workforce Development Area: For all Orange County cities and unincorporated areas except Anaheim and Santa Ana, email or mail notice to:
- Nancy Cook, Director
- Orange County Workforce Development Board
- 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, 2nd Floor
- Santa Ana, CA 92705
- Nancy.Cook@occr.ocgov.com
Anaheim employers: Contact the Anaheim Workforce Connection.
Santa Ana employers: Contact the City of Santa Ana WORK Center.
The WARN notice must include:
- Name and address of the employment site
- Name, phone number, and email address of a company representative to contact for further information
- Whether the action is permanent or temporary
- Whether the entire facility will close
- Expected date of the first separation and anticipated schedule for subsequent separations
- Job titles and number of affected employees in each job classification
- Any available bumping rights
- Union contact information, if applicable
- For multiple affected locations, a breakdown specifying the number of affected employees and their respective job titles by location
- Whether Rapid Response services will be coordinated with the local Workforce Development Board or another organization
OC Workforce Solutions' Business Solutions team can help employers understand WARN requirements and connect businesses and affected workers with available workforce services.
Contact Us:
- Phone: (866) 500-6587
- Email: info@ocworkforcesolutions.com
Additional Resources:
- Federal WARN Act Regulations (20 CFR Part 639)
- California WARN Act (Labor Code §§ 1400-1408)
- Senate Bill 617 (2025–2026) California WARN amendments
- U.S. Department of Labor WARN guidance
- Employment Development Department (EDD) WARN guidance, FAQs, and reports