Mass Layoffs in Pandemic Have Sparked Few Worker Notice Suits

Workers who’ve lost their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic have brought just a handful of federal class actions accusing companies of failing to provide early notice of mass layoffs.

Only four lawsuits have been filed alleging violations of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act related to virus-driven layoffs, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis. They include cases against restaurant chain Hooters Inc., rental car giant Hertz Corp., and Silicon Valley tech firm Velodyne Lidar Inc.

The WARN Act is designed to give workers time to prepare and look for other jobs. It generally requires at least a 60-day notice ...