California’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (Cal-WARN) generally applies to any commercial or industrial business that employs, or has employed within the preceding 12 months, 75 or more full- and part-time employees. The law requires any covered business to provide a 60-day notice to employees and specified state and local government representatives before a mass layoff, termination, or relocation.
Beginning January 1, 2026, employers will be required to provide employees with additional information in any notices issued pursuant to Cal-WARN. Specifically, employers’ notices must include the following additional information:
- A functioning email and telephone number of the employer for contact.
- A description of CalFresh, California’s statewide food assistance program; a reference to CalFresh’s benefits helpline; and a link to CalFresh’s website.
- A statement of whether the employer plans to coordinate services, such as a rapid-response orientation, through the local workforce development board, through another entity, or not at all.
- Regardless of whether an employer coordinates services through the local workforce development board, it must still include a functioning email and telephone number for the local workforce development board and the following description in its Cal-WARN notice:
- If the employer chooses to coordinate services, the employer must arrange for the services within 30 days from the date of the notice.
"Local Workforce Development Boards and their partners help laid off workers find new jobs. Visit an America’s Job Center of California location near you. You can get help with your resume, practice interviewing, search for jobs, and more. You can also learn about training programs to help start a new career.”
California employers should review and be prepared to issue any future notices under Cal-WARN in compliance with these additional notice requirements.
If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact one of the attorneys on our Labor & Employment team.
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