WARN Act Notices Require Notice, Not Job References; Secure Yours Before Leaving

The federal WARN Act obliges covered employers to give workers 60 days' notice of plant closings or mass layoffs, but it does not address references or recommendations. Those matters fall under company policy, severance terms, and state law. Layoff Atlas reports 686 WARN notices covering 66,703 workers, with California and Washington leading, though these are planned rather than confirmed job losses. Many employers now limit references to verifying job title and dates, so departing workers are advised to secure a named contact and written recommendation while still employed. Keeping personal records of projects and results also helps back up one's account later.