Which act requires employers to provide advance notice for layoffs?

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act mandates that employers provide employees with advance notice of significant layoffs or plant closings. Specifically, it requires employers with 100 or more employees to give 60 days' notice in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs. This advance notice is designed to allow employees to prepare for the loss of their jobs, seek new employment, or engage in other redundancy measures.

The focus of the WARN Act is to protect workers and their families by ensuring they have sufficient time to adjust to the impending unemployment. It aims to facilitate a smoother transition during economic changes, underscoring the importance of transparency in employment practices.

In contrast, the other acts mentioned do not specifically address advance notifications for layoffs. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act deals with pension and health care benefits. The Civil Rights Act focuses on prohibiting employment discrimination. The National Labor Relations Act primarily addresses the rights of employees to engage in collective bargaining and to form labor unions. These acts serve different functions and do not include provisions for notifying employees about layoffs. Thus, the WARN Act is the only option that specifically requires advance notice for layoffs.