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

State Info

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

The state of Maine has several statutes which address things like severance pay, and notice.

For the most part, the state follows the federal rule in regard to plant closings. 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.

Maine's Rapid Response Team is available to assist workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own as a result of downsizing or a company closure. Rapid Response Teams provide statewide, early intervention, no cost reemployment services to companies and their employees affected by layoffs and closures.