Section 205 of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) applies certain rights and protections of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to covered employees. This section of the CAA requires that employees must be given prior notice of an office closing or mass layoff. With limited exceptions, notice must be timed to reach the required parties at least 60 days in advance of the event.
There are a number of other requirements when giving notice of an office closing or mass layoff. Notice to affected employees must be in writing, specific, and must contain each of the required elements in Office of Congressional Workplace Rights Regulations. Notice must be provided directly to either the affected employees or to their representatives (for example, a labor union).
Employing offices are covered by the WARN provisions of the CAA only if they meet certain size thresholds. Special provisions apply to the privatization or sale of operations and to temporary employment.
For more information, please refer to the Congressional Accountability Act.