Copyright Newsweek
As several companies have already mandated mass layoffs across departments, workers are wary about how their employers could adjust head count going into 2026. For most employees, there’s a way to check whether their company is planning a layoff months before one takes place. Why It Matters Amazon laid off 14,000 employees on Tuesday, citing goals of improving operations and getting rid of unnecessary bureaucracy. “We want to operate like the world’s largest startup,” Beth Galetti, the senior vice president of people experience and technology, wrote in an announcement. She added, “The reductions we’re sharing today are a continuation of this work to get even stronger by further reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources to ensure we’re investing in our biggest bets and what matters most to our customers’ current and future needs.” Other companies—including Target, Novo Nordisk and Paramount Skydance—have also made recent headlines over their layoffs of thousands of workers. What To Know All employers in the United States with 100 or more full-time employees are required to provide a 60-day notice in advance of mass layoffs or plant closings under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Though some employers attempt to ignore their WARN requirements or find ways around them, the notice period often allows employees to prepare for the worst-case scenario by having a bit of time before the layoffs become official. “Layoffs aren’t slowing down, shutdown or not. Layoffs are a feature of capitalism that attempts to keep workers in line,” human resources consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek. The WARN stipulations apply when a company lays off 500 or more employees at once—which is defined as a mass layoff—or when it lays off 50 or more employees at a single site who make up at least 33 percent of that site’s workforce. Notices are also required if at least 50 employees experience a reduction in work hours of at least 50 percent that’s expected to last at least six months. To stay informed, employees should check the WARN notice website with the Department of Labor, though it may not be kept up to date during the ongoing government shutdown. The WARNTracker also compiles historical data and keeps up to date on recent notices. What People Are Saying HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: “The best warning signs for workers is internal. Hiring freezes, budget cuts, leadership reshuffles, and sudden project pauses all signal volatility. When those happen, it’s time to prepare by ensuring your résumé is up to date, reaching out to trusted networks, and talking honestly with your family.” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings Podcast, told Newsweek: “People should be prepared for more layoffs as we move toward the end of the year. We’re seeing them across nearly every sector, from services and transportation to banking, finance, and even grocery chains. Companies are operating in an uncertain environment and are now cutting in the one area they can control—their salaried and hourly workforce.” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “If you work for an employer who falls under the requirement, you’ll know that layoffs are coming, but you more than likely won’t know right away if it’s your job that is a part of them. It’s important to seek out management to ascertain what additional information you can on the layoffs before immediately searching for a new role, as your job may not be affected. At the same point, many employees are going to grow concerned even if their jobs remain untouched, and a mass layoff that doesn’t affect your role could still be an indicator of a larger shrinking of the workforce ahead.” What Happens Next If your company is affected by a mass layoff or the WARN Act, you’ll receive a written notice of what’s happening and when via the WARN tracking system, which you can check online. “You can also monitor the WARN Tracker, which compiles these filings and gives you insight into whether your employer or others in your industry may be undergoing similar transitions,” Thompson said. “Staying informed allows you to plan ahead, update your résumé, and prepare for potential changes before they happen.”
