Federal & State Regulations | WARN - Alaska | J. J. Keller® Compliance Network

State Info

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Fro the most part, the state of Alaska follows the federal rule for plant closings and mass layoffs. The federal rule states that employers having 100 or more employees (not counting employees who worked less than six months of the last 12 months and not counting employees who average less than 20 hours a week) are subject to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN). Employers are required to provide 60 days’ advance notice of covered plant closings and covered mass layoffs. This notice must be given either to the affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union) plus the State dislocated worker unit and the appropriate unit of local government.

In Alaska, employers provide notice to the Dislocated Worker Unit. This provides time for the Dislocated Worker Unit to organize and begin the provision of services to help these workers obtain new employment.

The State Dislocated Worker Unit responds to plant closings, mass layoffs and regional industry declines by providing Rapid Response services to laid off workers according to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).