The California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN) imposes advance notice requirements on employers conducting mass layoffs, plant closures, or facility relocations. As of January 1, 2026, the content requirements for Cal-WARN notices have been expanded under Senate Bill 617.
Cal-WARN applies to all California employers that operate a “covered establishment,” defined as any industrial or commercial facility that employs, or has employed within the preceding 12 months, 75 or more persons.
A Cal-WARN notice is required before:
- A mass layoff of 50 or more employees within a 30-day period
- A termination — meaning the cessation or substantial cessation of commercial or industrial operations
- A relocation of operations 100 miles or more away
New content requirements effective January 1, 2026:
Under SB 617, Cal-WARN notices must now include specific information about whether the employer plans to coordinate transition services for affected employees through the local workforce development board, another organization, or no outside entity at all. Notices must also include:
- Contact information for the applicable local workforce development board
- A description of available workforce assistance services
- Information about the CalFresh food assistance program
- A functioning email address and telephone number for affected employees to request additional information
If the employer decides to coordinate services with the local workforce development board or another entity, SB 617 requires the employer to arrange those services within 30 days from the date of the written notice.
