Portland Lawyer Weighs In on Legal Responsibilities of Restaurateurs

Nation’s Restaurant News turned to Clarence Belnavis for guidance on how layoffs could have legal implications for restaurants. Some operators are laying off or furloughing workers, or temporarily shutting down operations altogether, but those short-term solutions could have long-term legal repercussions if employers don’t follow WARN Act requirements.

The WARN Act requires many employers to notify local officials as well as employees in advance of large-scale termination. However, Clarence explained that “it’s possible — even likely — that the COVID-19 outbreak could classify as an exception, either as a “natural disaster” or an “unforeseen business circumstance” where notification may not be required.

To read the full article, visit Nation's Restaurant News.