WARN notices by state are posted by each state's workforce agency, not by one national source. The federal WARN Act generally requires employers with 100 or more employees to give 60 days' notice of plant closings and mass layoffs, and a number of states add their own rules. Some states publish a searchable list. Others publish a spreadsheet, or very little.
These notices are about people losing jobs, and that deserves care. They are also public records that tell a landlord, a lender or an equipment dealer that a large site is about to change. This guide covers where to find the notices, how state rules differ and how to use one respectfully. For the term itself, see WARN notice in the glossary.
What does the federal WARN Act require?
As of October 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor describes WARN as covering employers with 100 or more employees, with 60 calendar days of advance notice for plant closings and mass layoffs. Part-time employees (generally those who worked fewer than six of the last 12 months or average fewer than 20 hours a week) are left out of the employer count, though an employer with 100 or more employees working a combined 4,000 hours a week is also covered. Part-time workers left out of the count are still entitled to notice. A plant closing or mass layoff generally involves 50 or more employees at a single site, and a mass layoff also has to meet a one-third-of-the-workforce test unless 500 or more employees are affected.
The employer sends notice to the affected employees or their representatives, to the state dislocated worker unit and to the chief elected official of the local government. The notice to the state and local officials has to include specifics such as the site and the planned dates.
The Department of Labor is plain that it does not run a central list. In its WARN FAQ, it states that it neither maintains a database of WARN notices nor requires employers to send notices to the Department. It adds that some states publish listings on their websites, that doing so is voluntary for states and that the frequency and detail vary.
Which states have their own WARN laws?
Several states have notice laws that differ from the federal Act, and the differences change what shows up in a listing. Verify the rule with the state agency before relying on it. The table covers only items checked against state government pages as of October 2026. States not listed may still have their own rules.
| State | Where notices are posted | Notable differences from federal (verified items only) |
|---|---|---|
| California | Employment Development Department (EDD): a latest-report spreadsheet and past fiscal-year PDF reports | Applies to establishments with 75 or more full and part-time employees in the preceding 12 months; 60 days' notice; covers closures regardless of the number of employees affected |
| New York | Department of Labor: a WARN dashboard filterable by county, industry and workforce board | Applies to businesses with 50 or more full-time employees in the state; 90 days' notice |
| New Jersey | Department of Labor and Workforce Development: annual archives and an Excel archive | Applies to employers with 100 or more employees; 90 days' notice since the April 10, 2023 amendments; severance of one week per year of service required |
| Illinois | Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: monthly reports on a WARN dashboard | Applies to employers with 75 or more full-time employees; 60 days' notice; its own mass layoff test (25 or more full-time employees meeting set thresholds) |
| Washington | Employment Security Department: a sortable database with downloadable notices | A state law effective July 27, 2025 covers closures and mass layoffs of 50 or more full-time employees at a single worksite, with 60 days' notice, and also covers certain large cuts in hours (ESD WARN requirements) |
| Texas | Texas Workforce Commission: yearly Excel files | The page presents notices under the federal Act and states no separate state threshold |
How do you find WARN notices for any other state?
Search for the state's name plus "WARN notices" and look for the workforce agency, usually the department of labor or workforce commission, that houses the dislocated worker unit or rapid response team. If that agency posts nothing, the Department of Labor suggests contacting the state's Rapid Response Coordinator, and it keeps a contact page that lists coordinators by state.
Then check three things on the page: how far back the list goes, how often it updates and what each row contains. Some rows include the employer, site, number of workers and planned date. Others list a name and a city only. Many states post spreadsheets or PDFs, so plan to download and filter by county.
Who should care about a WARN notice, and why?
A notice means a site is changing, and each seller sees a different part of it. The respectful first move is almost always a call to the business, not to the people being laid off.
| Seller type | What a notice can mean for them | Respectful first move |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial real estate broker | A building, or part of one, may come to market or need a sublease or buyer | Reach the employer's real estate or facilities contact, or the landlord of record |
| Landlord or property manager | A tenant may vacate, shrink or ask about early release | Check your own lease records first, then offer help to the tenant's real estate contact |
| Equipment remarketing or auction | Racking, forklifts, machinery or fixtures may be sold off | Ask the operations or finance contact how they plan to handle assets |
| Staffing and outplacement | The employer or the state may want transition support | Offer a resource to HR or operations leadership; do not solicit affected workers |
| Local banker | Deposit, payroll and credit relationships tied to the site may change, and a lender may want local context | Make a relationship call or ask for an introduction through an existing contact |
| PEO | Less likely to matter; the notice mostly concerns larger employers, though nearby smaller employers may feel the effects | Watch for smaller, nearby employers tied to the same closure |
| Supplier or service vendor | Orders, deliveries and service contracts at the site may stop | Check your own accounts, then ask the contact you already have |
For bankers, the commercial lending page shows how a notice fits beside other signals, and the banker business development guide covers the call. Property and facility sellers can read the property management guide, and PEO teams the PEO guide to public filings.
What does a WARN notice look like in a fictional county?
In fictional Harlow County, Brennaquist Supply Co. (fictional) files a WARN notice with the state for the planned closing of a distribution building. The state's listing shows the site address, the planned closing date and the number of affected workers. Two local sellers read the same row and see different openings.
A commercial real estate broker sees a large building that may come available, and wonders whether the company leases it or owns it. An equipment dealer sees racking, conveyors and lift trucks that may need a new home, and wonders when the operations team will decide. Neither needs the names of the people who work there. Both can ask the company a business question.
A WARN notice lists the planned closing of its Harlow County distribution building. The building and its equipment may be headed to market, so this is the time to ask what the company plans.
Everything above is fictional, including Harlow County and the company. In practice, the broker would confirm who owns the building and whether the company leases it before calling, and would keep the first conversation about the property.
What can't a WARN notice tell you?
It cannot tell you about every layoff. The federal Act covers employers of 100 or more employees and set site thresholds, so smaller employers and smaller cuts often never appear. State laws lower some thresholds, but only in the states that have them.
- Dates are planned dates. The listed date is when the employer expects the action. The Department of Labor's employer guide says that if an action is postponed for less than 60 days, additional notice should be given as soon as possible, and a postponement of 60 days or more needs a new notice. Notices can also be revised or rescinded, and a closing may move or not happen.
- Posting varies. Some states post quickly. Others post by year, in a spreadsheet or in PDFs, and some post late.
- Detail varies. Not every listing names the number of workers, the exact address or the reason.
- It does not say what happens to the building. A closing does not mean a sale, a sublease or an auction. Confirm before you assume.
Primary sources: U.S. Department of Labor: employer's guide to WARN · U.S. Department of Labor: WARN FAQ (database statement) · New York Department of Labor: WARN · Washington ESD: WARN requirements. Each state row links its agency page. State rules change, so confirm on the agency page, as of October 2026.
Where TIP fits
A WARN listing is one public record among many, and it rarely stands alone. TIP (Territory Intelligence Platform) is territory intelligence for teams that sell in the field: it turns public records into a short daily list of accounts worth a call or a visit, each with the reason, the role to ask for and the source. The same approach is covered in the guides to federal data sources and public records for B2B prospecting. Whether you work by phone or by visit, you start with a reason for the conversation. Bankers can see how this fits on the commercial lending page. Coverage is built per industry and region, and new regions can be added. If this fits your territory, get early access, and we reply within two business days.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national database of WARN notices?
No. The U.S. Department of Labor says it does not maintain one and does not require employers to send notices to it. Employers send notice to the state dislocated worker unit, and some states choose to publish listings.
How far in advance are WARN notices filed?
Federal WARN generally requires 60 calendar days. Some states require longer: New York and New Jersey each call for 90 days, as of October 2026. Employers sometimes give shorter notice under limited exceptions, so the planned date can be closer than the rule suggests.
Who receives a WARN notice?
Under the federal law, the employer sends notice to the affected employees or their representatives, to the state dislocated worker unit and to the chief elected official of the local government. State laws can add recipients, so check the state agency page.
Do WARN notices include the number of employees affected?
Often, but not always. Notices to the state generally describe the site, the planned dates and the affected positions or workers, and some states show the count in their listing. Others show only the employer and location, so open the underlying notice when one is available.
Can a company cancel a WARN notice?
A company can postpone or change a planned action. The Department of Labor's employer guide says postponements of less than 60 days need additional notice, and 60 days or more need a new one. Treat every date as planned, and recheck before you call.