WARN Act Compliance Toolkit

Accurate WARN counting starts with the timing of each employment loss. This toolkit calculates the 30-day and 90-day windows for every logged loss, flags potential exposure for counsel review, and helps draft the notices. The results identify potential exposure rather than providing legal clearance.

Seven files for WARN counting and notices

Use the guide to understand the rules, the calculator to check the counting windows, and the letters to prepare notices. All three work together for one reduction.

• Start Here. Explains how the files work together, the order to use them, and when to involve counsel.
• WARN Act Compliance Guide. Covers employer coverage, employment-loss definitions, threshold calculations, and 90-day aggregation through a worked example. Includes the four-state mini-WARN table, notice recipients and required content for each audience, dated remote-worker risk guidance, exceptions, and penalties.
• WARN Threshold and Aggregation Calculator. Enter employment losses by date. Every row calculates qualifying losses in rolling 30-day and 90-day windows, with short layoffs under 6 months zero-weighted. Includes the 33% share test, five federal tests, and a separate state test for California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. The timeline tab counts notice deadlines backward from the separation date. Opens on a worked example.
• WARN Notice Letter Templates. Four letters with the required content for affected employees, union representatives, the state dislocated worker unit, and the chief elected official. Includes the short-form option for the state unit, the California SB 617 addendum, and a delivery-record prompt for each letter. Opens in Word or Google Docs.
• Quick Reference (PDF). The whole workbook on one page, including what each tab is for, what you enter, and how to read the result.

From counting losses to sending notices

Begin with the employment-loss count, establish the notice timeline, and prepare the letters. Involve counsel wherever the legal determination depends on the facts.

• Enter the employment losses. Record each contemplated separation and its date. The calculator runs the rolling 30-day and 90-day windows, applies the 33% test, and zero-weights short layoffs so they do not inflate the count.
• Review the exposure flags. See five federal tests and the applicable state test, each with the reasoning behind the result. These flags identify potential exposure for counsel review rather than legal clearance.
• Set the notice timeline. Count backward 60 or 90 calendar days from the separation date, allow extra time for delivery, and mark the counsel review milestone before those deadlines.
• Prepare and deliver the notices. Use one letter per recipient class, include the required elements and California addendum where applicable, and complete the delivery-record prompt for each letter. Have counsel review the letters before sending.

Understand potential WARN exposure

Every test in the calculator identifies potential WARN exposure for review with employment counsel. The results show where further review may be needed, and every threshold includes its checked date.

• Exposure profiles. Each test identifies potential risk and provides the reasoning for counsel review. The calculator does not issue legal clearance.
• Dated thresholds. Federal and state thresholds include their checked dates and a verify-current-law banner. Laws can change, and pending bills may affect future requirements.
• Automatic 90-day aggregation. The calculator checks the rolling 90-day window for every row, including employment losses spread across multiple rounds of a reduction.
• Remote-worker guidance. The single-site question remains unsettled. The guide identifies the relevant litigation and presents dated risk guidance rather than treating the issue as a settled rule.

Who this is for and other options

Built for

• An operator or HR lead planning a reduction near WARN thresholds who wants to review the counts before working through notice deadlines with counsel.
• A lean HR team coordinating notice letters and timelines during a workforce reduction.
• A consultant supporting a client through a restructure.

If you are looking for

• For selection and severance planning, the RIF and Restructure Planning Kit covers documented selection, adverse impact, and releases.
• For a broader set of reduction planning tools, the RIF Complete System bundles this toolkit with the planning kit and the savings planner.

Before you buy

Does the calculator tell me whether WARN applies?

The calculator runs the 30-day and 90-day windows and applies every federal and state test to your numbers. Each exposure flag shows the reasoning behind the result. Coverage also depends on facts that require counsel review, so the calculator does not issue legal clearance.

Which state laws does it model?

California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey each have their own test and dated thresholds. An other-state prompt directs you to check additional requirements. Where federal and state requirements differ, the stricter rule applies. The reference identifies which dimensions each state tightens.

What is in the notice letters?

One letter per recipient class carrying the content elements the regulations require for that audience: affected employees, union representatives, the state dislocated worker unit including the short-form option, and the chief elected official, plus the California SB 617 addendum items effective 1 January 2026. Each carries a delivery-record prompt and a counsel-review instruction.

How does it handle remote workers?

The law remains unsettled. The guide dates the conflicting rulings and pending litigation, explains that New York counts site-based remote workers by statute, and describes a cautious approach to discuss with counsel.

Is it a subscription?

No. This is a one-time purchase with no recurring fee.

How do I know when it was last checked?

Each file carries a last-reviewed date, and every threshold and test is dated in the text. Rules change, so confirm the current rule before you rely on a result.

What is the refund policy?

Digital products are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. To request a refund, email support@truestephr.com or reply to your receipt within 30 days of purchase.

What happens after I buy?

Your download link appears immediately after checkout. Your receipt arrives by email with the same link. Open the Start Here page first for the recommended order. For setup questions, email support@truestephr.com.

Can I expense this purchase to my business?

A tool you use for work often qualifies as a deductible business expense, but that depends on your situation, so confirm with your accountant. Your receipt arrives by email at checkout and works as documentation.

General information, not legal advice. Have qualified employment counsel review any count, timeline, or notice before you act on it.

How the download works

Your files arrive as a single ZIP download, best opened on a computer. Save it, extract it (right-click and select Extract All on Windows, or double-click on a Mac), then open the Start Here file first. PDFs open in any reader, and editable files work in Microsoft Word and Excel or free equivalents, including LibreOffice, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. No other software is needed. Step-by-step help for every device is at truestephr.com/pages/download-help.