The California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN), governs employer actions regarding mass layoffs, relocations, and terminations. The statute prohibits an employer, with certain exceptions, from ordering a mass layoff, relocation, or termination at a covered establishment unless the employer provides 60-days’ written notice to the employees, the Employment Development Department, and other local agencies. 

California’s SB 617, effective January 1, 2026, will now require employers to include in their written notice: 

• Whether or not the employer plans to coordinate services (e.g., rapid response orientation) through the local workforce development board (LWDB), or another entity; and 
• A description of the state’s food assistance program known as CalFresh, the CalFresh benefits helpline and a link to the CalFresh website.  
• A functioning email and telephone number of the LWDB and the following description of the rapid response activities offered by the LWDB: 
  • “Local Workforce Development Boards and their partners help laid off workers find new jobs. Visit an America’s Job Center of California location near you. You can get help with your resume, practice interviewing, search for jobs, and more. You can also learn about training programs to help start a new career.”  
• A functioning email and telephone number of the employer for contact purposes.  

If the employer chooses to provide coordinated services, they must be arranged within 30 days from the date of the notice.