After the Effective Date: What Happens Next for Workers in a WARN Layoff

A WARN notice has two dates that matter, and workers often confuse them. The notice date is when the employer filed the paperwork. The effective date is when the layoff actually takes hold — the last day of work for the affected group, or the day a plant closes. Everything practical — final pay, unemployment eligibility, and health coverage — runs from the effective date, not the notice date.

As of October 29, 2026, Layoff Atlas tracks 694 WARN notices covering 67,083 reported workers in its 90-day window, with 30 counts unavailable. The heaviest upcoming effective week is November 19, with 8,412 workers, followed by the week of October 29 with 8,693 workers. Thousands of workers are therefore approaching, or have just passed, an effective date.…