2026 New Jersey Layoffs: Your Rights Under the NJ WARN Act and Wrongful Termination Laws

Several major corporations have announced significant workforce reductions heading into 2026, impacting hundreds of employees across New Jersey. For workers facing job loss, understanding your rights under both federal and New Jersey employment law is critical.

As a New Jersey employment attorney, I frequently speak with employees who are unsure whether their layoff was lawful — or whether they are entitled to severance, advance notice, or additional compensation under state law.

Below is a breakdown of the recent layoffs and what New Jersey workers should know.

Companies Announcing 2026 Layoffs in New Jersey

According to recent filings in the state’s WARN notice archive, the following employers have announced workforce reductions:

• Verizon (Basking Ridge) – 1,319 employees (initially announced November 2025)
• Target – 107 employees across Burlington, Gloucester, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties (effective May 17)
• Walmart – 100 employees in Hoboken (effective May 1)
• Eddie Bauer – 58 employees in Bergen, Morris, Camden, Monmouth, and Somerset Counties
• Bristol Myers Squibb (Lawrence Township) – 247 employees throughout the year
• Arrow Fastener (Saddle Brook) – 140 employees
• Cigna Evernorth Services (Morris Plains) – 134 employees
• Scudetto Logistics (Trenton) – 120 employees
• JPMorgan Chase (Jersey City) – 120 employees
• AT&T (Bedminster) – 75 employees

These layoffs follow more than 16,000 job cuts statewide in 2025 alone, with over 4,000 additional terminations scheduled to take effect in 2026.

New Jersey WARN Act vs. Federal WARN Act: Key Differences

Many employees do not realize that New Jersey provides stronger protections than federal law.

Federal WARN Act

Under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act:

• Employers with 100+ employees
• Must provide 60 days’ notice
• If 50+ employees are laid off at a single site

New Jersey WARN Act (Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act)

New Jersey law is more protective. It requires:

• Employers must have 100+ full and part-time employees nationwide, regardless of tenure. 
• 90 days’ advance written notice
• Mandatory severance pay (even if proper notice is given)
• Additional penalties if notice is not timely 
• If 50 or more layoffs occur within a 90-day window, so long as those 50+ work in NJ or report to a NJ office as their base of work.  

If an employer fails to comply, affected employees may be entitled to four additional weeks of pay.

For workers in large-scale layoffs in New Jersey, this is a critical distinction.

Are All Layoffs Legal?

Not necessarily.

Even during mass layoffs, terminations may still violate:

• New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) – prohibits discrimination based on race, age, gender, pregnancy, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and more
• Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) – protects whistleblowers from retaliation
• Wage & Hour laws (unpaid commissions, bonuses, PTO payout issues)
• Anti-retaliation protections

For example:

• Was the layoff disproportionately targeting older workers?
• Were employees who complained about sexual harassment or racial discrimination selected for termination?
• Did the company fail to pay earned bonuses or commissions?
• Was the “layoff” actually a pretext for wrongful termination?

These are common issues in large corporate reductions.

What to Do If You Were Laid Off in New Jersey

If you were recently laid off:

1. Review your severance agreement carefully – You may be waiving important legal rights.
2. Do not sign immediately – Especially if you suspect discrimination or retaliation.
3. Confirm WARN compliance – Was proper notice given?
4. Document everything – Emails, performance reviews, internal complaints.
5. Consult a New Jersey employment attorney before signing a release.

Many severance agreements include strict deadlines and confidentiality provisions. Once signed, you often cannot pursue claims for wrongful termination, retaliation, or discrimination.

Speak With a New Jersey Employment Attorney

Mass layoffs can be financially and emotionally devastating. But New Jersey workers have strong legal protections — including mandatory severance rights and powerful anti-discrimination laws.

If you were affected by layoffs at Verizon, Target, Walmart, Bristol Myers Squibb, JPMorgan Chase, AT&T, or any other employer in New Jersey, you may have more rights than you realize.

A consultation can help determine whether:

• Your employer complied with the New Jersey WARN Act
• You are owed additional severance
• Your termination violated NJLAD or CEPA
• You have claims for unpaid compensation