Ley Nacional WARN - Protección en Acción

California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act

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California and federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) laws require employers to provide advance notice to workers in the event of qualifying mass layoffs or plant closures.

California’s WARN Act applies to “covered establishments” (workplaces with 75 or more employees in the last 12 months) and defines a “mass layoff” as the termination of 50 or more employees at a covered establishment within a 30-day period. Employers must provide 60 days' written notice before such layoffs. Failure to comply may result in liability for back pay, benefits, and potential penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). 

The federal WARN Act covers employers with 100 or more full-time employees or 100 or more employees working at least 4,000 hours per week. It defines a “plant closure” as the shutdown of a single site resulting in the loss of employment for 50 or more full-time employees within 30 days. A “mass layoff” is defined as the loss of at least 33% of full-time employees (minimum 50 employees) or 500 full-time employees within a 30-day period. The federal law also requires a 60-day notice and provides similar remedies to those under California law.

Anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation laws also apply to mass layoffs. Employers cannot use these events as an excuse to discriminate against protected classes of employees, such as older workers, employees with disabilities, or pregnant workers. Such practices, even within the context of a legitimate reduction in force (RIF), are illegal.

If you or someone you know did not receive advance notice as part of a mass layoff or RIF, contact us immediately.

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Associate

Christine Reyes

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Christine Reyes is an Associate Attorney with PLG. Ms. Reyes represents employees in a wide range of employment matters, including wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. With a strong legal background, Ms. Reyes previously represented plaintiffs in personal and catastrophic injury cases, gaining valuable experience that has shaped her approach in advocating for employees facing workplace injustices.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Reyes worked as a personal injury paralegal and legal assistant, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the litigation process from intake to trial preparation, to resolution. This experience gave Ms. Reyes a unique perspective on case management, strategy, and helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system. Ms. Reyes provides effective, compassionate representation and is committed to fighting for the rights of employees.

Ms. Reyes attended the University of California, Santa Cruz and earned her law degree from Santa Clara University, School of Law. Ms. Reyes is licensed to practice law in all California State Courts and in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California. Ms. Reyes is fluent in Spanish.

Associate

SUSAN HUERTA

Ms. Huerta is a trial attorney at Protección En Acción. Licensed as an attorney since 2008, she has more than 16 years of legal experience dealing with highly complex employment litigation, class action lawsuits, and civil rights. Serving clients throughout California, Attorney Huerta has achieved significant success fighting for the rights of employees who have suffered serious rights violations, including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour disputes, wrongful termination, and more. A highly compassionate and personable attorney, Attorney Huerta genuinely cares about the issues facing her clients and has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate who aggressively pursues the most favorable outcomes on behalf of her clients. She also understands the stress and anxiety her clients feel regarding their situations, and provides dedicated and effective advice and support with the utmost care and respect to help them obtain the justice they deserve. She is fluent in Spanish and can communicate directly with many people who may have difficulty speaking English.

In 2020, Attorney Huerta was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. She practices in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, including Class Action Lawsuits, Wrongful Termination, Discrimination, Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault, Negligent Hiring and Supervision, and Civil Rights. Ms. Huerta is admitted to practice law in California, in the United States District Court for the Central and Northern District of California and in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

In her spare time, Ms. Huerta provides free legal assistance to battered women and unaccompanied immigrant children.

Associate

JEFFREY JIMENEZ

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is a Junior Associate Attorney at Protection in Action. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is dedicated to ensuring that employee rights are protected in the workplace, specifically in collective and representative wage and hour actions. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez has experience in other employment matters, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination cases. Before joining full time, he worked as a paralegal for Proteccion En Acción along with several other public organizations and private law firms in employment law, special education law, and immigration law.

Mr. Jiménez attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and received his PhD from Southwestern School of Law.

General Partner

CARLOS JIMENEZ

Extensive Experience and Knowledge

As a former partner and co-chair of his national class action practice group at a prominent employment defense firm, attorney Carlos Jiménez has extensive experience that he uses to benefit his clients. During his time as an employment defense attorney, Attorney Carlos Jiménez's practice focused on defending employers in California wage and hour class action lawsuits and PAGA matters, and he contributed to superior courts' efforts to streamline case management. class action lawsuit and PAGA. With this unique experience and knowledge, along with his extensive experience in state and federal courts, Attorney Carlos Jiménez is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rights of employees in the workplace.

Attorney Carlos Jiménez attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and received his Professional Doctorate from Loyola Law School. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Mr. Jiménez grew up in a blue-collar family and speaks fluent Spanish. Attorney Carlos Jiménez is admitted to practice law in all California state and federal courts and the California Court of Appeals.

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