Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Layoff is when an employer ends someone's job, either temporarily or permanently. Sometimes, many employees lose their jobs at the same time. This is called a mass layoff. There is a law called the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that requires employers to give notice if they plan to lay off a lot of people at once. This law helps employees prepare for the loss of their job and find new work.
Definition: Layoff refers to the termination of employment by an employer, either temporarily or permanently, especially when many employees are let go at once. It can also be referred to as a reduction in force.
Example: A company may lay off a large number of employees due to financial difficulties or restructuring. This means that those employees will no longer have a job with the company.
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act: This is a federal law that requires employers to give notice of a plant closing or mass layoff at least 60 days before it happens. The notice must be given to the employees, the state-dislocated-workers unit, and the chief elected official of the local government where the layoff is to occur. For example, if a factory is closing down and 500 or more full-time employees will lose their jobs, the employer must give notice under this law.
The examples illustrate that a layoff is when an employer terminates the employment of many employees at once, either temporarily or permanently. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act is a law that requires employers to give notice of a mass layoff or plant closing to the affected employees and government officials.