WARN notices and layoff law in Hawaii
The federal WARN Act covers employers with 100 or more full-time employees. It requires 60 calendar days' written notice before a plant closing that costs 50 or more full-time workers their jobs at one site, or a mass layoff at one site within 30 days of either 500 or more full-time workers, or 50 to 499 who make up at least a third of that site's workforce. Hawaii adds its own protection: Hawaii's Dislocated Workers Act (HRS Chapter 394B) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 60 days' advance notice of closings or mass layoffs. You can see mass layoffs reported in Hawaii on the state's official WARN list at labor.hawaii.gov.
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Hawaii layoff notice, at a glance
Federal WARN
Employers of 100+; 60 days' notice before a plant closing (50+ jobs at a site) or a mass layoff (500+ at a site, or 50 to 499 who are at least a third of it)
Hawaii state law
Yes, its own law on top of federal (see below)
Public notice list
Yes, at labor.hawaii.gov
If notice is skipped
Back pay + benefits for the missing days, up to 60
Hawaii's Dislocated Workers Act (HRS Chapter 394B) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 60 days' advance notice of closings or mass layoffs.
If your employer skipped required WARN notice, you may be owed back pay and benefits for the missing days, up to 60. There are narrow exceptions (genuinely unforeseen circumstances, disasters), and most layoffs don't qualify.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you think you were owed notice, an employment attorney can tell you whether you have a claim, often with a free first consultation.
Hawaii WARN FAQ
How much notice must an employer give before a layoff in Hawaii?
The federal WARN Act covers employers with 100 or more full-time employees. It requires 60 calendar days' written notice before a plant closing that costs 50 or more full-time workers their jobs at one site, or a mass layoff at one site within 30 days of either 500 or more full-time workers, or 50 to 499 who make up at least a third of that site's workforce. Hawaii also has its own law: Hawaii's Dislocated Workers Act (HRS Chapter 394B) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 60 days' advance notice of closings or mass layoffs. If an employer skips required notice, it can owe back pay and benefits for the missing days.
Where can I see WARN notices filed in Hawaii?
Hawaii publishes filed WARN notices on its official state workforce site at labor.hawaii.gov. It lists employers, locations, and dates of reported mass layoffs and closings.
Does Hawaii have its own layoff-notice law beyond federal WARN?
Yes. Hawaii's Dislocated Workers Act (HRS Chapter 394B) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 60 days' advance notice of closings or mass layoffs. This is general information, not legal advice; if you think you were owed notice, confirm the details with the state or an employment attorney.
Keep going
The full WARN guide
How the 60-day rule works, who's covered, and what you're owed if it's violated.
File for unemployment in Hawaii
The official Hawaii portal, the waiting week, and what to have ready.
Health coverage after a layoff in Hawaii
Where to enroll in Hawaii, your 60-day window, and the Medicaid rules.
WARN in another state
The official notice list and layoff law for every other state.
Reviewed September 2026, unchanged since September 2026. WARN rules and state laws change; confirm the current details on the official Hawaii site (labor.hawaii.gov) or with an employment attorney before relying on them.