WARN layoff tracker: How to search if your company is planning layoffs

Many companies have announced major layoffs in 2025, and workers across the country are bracing for more to come.

But employees can prepare for shake-ups at their company by using a free online tool courtesy of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. This law requires companies to issue warning notices for their layoffs in the coming months.

Why It Matters

More than 90 employers are planning to let workers go in March, according to the current WARNTracker.com.

Many companies are making the choice to let employees go as inflation pressures and shifting consumer demand impact retailers, tech and several other industries.

What To Know

The WarnTracker.com website allows employees to monitor their company for any potential layoffs planned.

While you can search based on state and year, the WARN tracker also enables workers to look for their specific company to stay informed of any coming workforce reductions.

The WARN Act was implemented in 1989 and requires businesses to notify employees about mass layoffs or plant closures under certain circumstances, including when employers with more than 100 workers shut down a plant or when more than 50 employees are let go.

Typically, employers are required to give notice by at least 60 days so workers can prepare for the impending job loss.

What People Are Saying

Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “Online resources like WARN Tracker online can help employees see whether their employer has issued a notice, which is a great indicator if they’re concerned about potential closures and layoffs. During times like these when cutbacks to the workforce are becoming more common, it’s now more than ever important to stay vigilant on future moves by your employer and obtain a higher degree of transparency for your employment future.”

Kevin Thompson, finance expert and founder/CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: “These notices are important for helping employees prepare for job transitions and for informing communities and government agencies about potential economic impacts. It provides valuable information in regard to employee preparedness as to not result in someone being laid off without notice. The last thing you want is to leave someone unprepared for the upcoming layoff, but in reality, are you ever prepared for a layoff?”

HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: “Many companies try to skirt around this requirement by manipulating layoff numbers, misclassifying workers, or breaking up job cuts into smaller waves. To track if your company has filed a WARN notice, you can check state labor department websites. However, not all states make it easy to find this information, and some take a long time to post – convenient for employers, inconvenient for workers.”

What Happens Next

As more companies look into layoffs for the rest of 2025, employees need to be proactive about keeping track of their company’s moves and future job options, Driscoll said.

“Don’t just rely on WARN notices – watch for red flags like hiring freezes, leadership shakeups, budget cuts, and closed-door style meetings,” Driscoll said. “Most importantly, always have an exit plan. While companies love to talk about loyalty, they rarely show it.”