Worker Adjustment Retraining Notifications filed by eight Ohio businesses thus far in 2013 could mean a total of 944 potential private-sector job losses.
According to WARN layoff notices filed from Jan. 1-March 5, 2013, four companies plan layoffs of 100 or more employees.
Recent WARN notices were filed by a Meijer food store in Newark. That notice potentially affects 187 employees.
The News Herald-Journal Register Company filed a Feb. 20 notice that could affect as many as 217 employees.
Notices for 2013 are down considerably from the same time period in 2012, 2011 and 2010.
• From Jan. 1-March 5, 2012, notices affected 2,184 employees, including 119 jobs in Clinton County and 79 jobs in Fayette County.
• From Jan. 1-March 5, 2011, notices affected 1,996 employees, including 500 USEC jobs in Pike County.
• From Jan. 1-March 5, 2010, notices affected 2,923 employees, including 388 jobs in Clinton County, mostly at ASTAR Air Cargo.
The WARN act provides protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring most employers with 100 or more employees to provide notification 60 calendar days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs.
WARN Notices are provided by these employers to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Workforce Development, Rapid Response Section.
WARN does not apply to the closing of temporary facilities, or the completion of an activity when the workers were hired only for the duration of that activity. WARN also provides for less than 60 days notice when the layoffs were the result of the closing of a faltering company, unforeseeable business circumstances, or a natural disaster.
Enforcement of WARN requirements is through the United States district courts. Workers, or their representatives, and units of local government may bring individual or class action suits. The court may allow reasonable attorney’s fees as part of any final judgment.
For more information, go to http://jfs.ohio.gov/warn/current.stm.