WARN notices and layoff law in Vermont
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. Vermont adds its own protection: Vermont's Notice of Potential Layoffs Act (mini-WARN) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 45 days' advance notice to the state (Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Labor) for a closing or mass layoff of 50+ workers over a 90-day period. You can see mass layoffs reported in Vermont on the state's official WARN list at www.vermontjoblink.com.
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Vermont 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)
Vermont state law
Yes, its own law on top of federal (see below)
Public notice list
Yes, at www.vermontjoblink.com
If notice is skipped
Back pay + benefits for the missing days, up to 60
Vermont's Notice of Potential Layoffs Act (mini-WARN) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 45 days' advance notice to the state (Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Labor) for a closing or mass layoff of 50+ workers over a 90-day period.
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.
Vermont WARN FAQ
How much notice must an employer give before a layoff in Vermont?
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. Vermont also has its own law: Vermont's Notice of Potential Layoffs Act (mini-WARN) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 45 days' advance notice to the state (Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Labor) for a closing or mass layoff of 50+ workers over a 90-day period. 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 Vermont?
Vermont publishes filed WARN notices on its official state workforce site at www.vermontjoblink.com. It lists employers, locations, and dates of reported mass layoffs and closings.
Does Vermont have its own layoff-notice law beyond federal WARN?
Yes. Vermont's Notice of Potential Layoffs Act (mini-WARN) covers employers with 50+ employees and requires 45 days' advance notice to the state (Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Labor) for a closing or mass layoff of 50+ workers over a 90-day period. 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 Vermont
The official Vermont portal, the waiting week, and what to have ready.
Health coverage after a layoff in Vermont
Where to enroll in Vermont, 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 Vermont site (www.vermontjoblink.com) or with an employment attorney before relying on them.