Wisconsin has recorded 145 WARN filings over the past 24 months, affecting 10,230 workers across 100 companies. The most active filer is Cygnus Home Service with 8 filings. Most filings are concentrated in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton. Of these, 84 involved facility closures and 61 were layoff events. Filing dates range from Sep 10, 2024 through Aug 24, 2026. Employers provided an average of 64 days notice before the effective date. Transportation & Warehousing accounts for the largest share of affected workers at 33%. Filings in the most recent quarter were lower than the prior quarter, with 19 compared to 21. The five largest employers account for 26 percent of the 10,230 workers affected in this window, led by The company provided a separate communication with the breakdown of the number affected at each site. with 1,063.

Last 24 Months

Workers Affected
10,230
Filings
145
Companies Affected
100
Avg Workers / Filing
70
Top Employer
Conagra Brands
504 workers
Recently laid off? Search for your employer · What to do next · Why some filings are missing · Find a job center
Largest filing this month Samuel Pressure Vessel Group 76 workers

Monthly Trend

Monthly avg: 426/mo

Top Cities

Year-over-Year

2026 YTD
3,508
2025
2024

Closure vs. Layoff

Closures — 58% Layoffs — 42%
58%
42%

Filings by Industry

Transportation & Warehousing 1,854 workers (33%)
Retail Trade 1,187 workers (21%)
Manufacturing 1,027 workers (18%)
Healthcare & Social Assistance 451 workers (8%)
Educational Services 250 workers (4%)
Accommodation & Food Services 233 workers (4%)
Construction 134 workers (2%)
Professional & Technical Services 131 workers (2%)

Top Employers Filing in Wisconsin

Laid off in Wisconsin?

If your employer filed a WARN notice in Wisconsin, you are entitled to 60 days advance written notice before your last day. During the notice period, you remain employed with regular pay and benefits. If your employer gave less than 60 days notice, you may be entitled to back pay and benefits for each day of the shortfall. After your last day, file for unemployment insurance with the Wisconsin workforce agency as soon as possible. Review your COBRA options to continue health coverage for up to 18 months. Visit your local America's Job Center for free career counseling, resume help, and retraining vouchers. Ask specifically about Rapid Response services, which are designed for WARN-affected workers.

File for Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance

Apply online at the Wisconsin workforce agency. You may be eligible before your last day.

COBRA and Health Coverage

Continue your employer health plan for up to 18 months, or compare lower-cost options on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Your Rights Under the WARN Act

Employers with 100 or more employees must give 60 days written notice before mass layoffs or plant closings.

Career Services and Training

Free career counseling, resume help, job search assistance, and retraining programs through CareerOneStop.

Find Your Local Job Center

America's Job Centers offer free career counseling, resume help, job search assistance, and retraining vouchers for WARN-affected workers. Ask about Rapid Response services.

About This Data

Wisconsin has expanded 'mini-WARN' requirements with lower thresholds than the federal standard. All data on this page is sourced from official filings published by the Wisconsin workforce agency. Filings through Aug 24, 2026. View source data at Wisconsin workforce agency →

WARN Act rules in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has its own layoff notice law on top of the federal WARN Act, the Wisconsin Business Closing and Mass Layoff Notification Law. An employer has to satisfy both, so the stricter rule is the one that applies to you.

67%

of Wisconsin employers gave the full 60 days notice

Measured across 135 filings where both the notice date and the layoff date are on record. Median 60 days.

Notice required
60 days
Employers covered
Businesses employing 50 or more people in Wisconsin.
What triggers notice
A business closing affecting 25 or more employees at a site within one municipality, or a mass layoff affecting at least 25 percent of the workforce or 25 employees, whichever is greater, or at least 500 employees.
Statute
Wis. Stat. 109.07; Wis. Admin. Code ch. DWD 279
If an employer does not comply
Up to 60 days of back pay and benefits for affected employees, plus up to $500 per day against employers that fail to notify the municipality.
Administered by
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

How Wisconsin differs from federal WARN

Wisconsin covers employers at 50 employees rather than 100 and uses lower triggers, requiring notice for closings affecting 25 or more employees and layoffs affecting 25 employees or 25 percent of the workforce.

Federal WARN, for comparison, covers employers with 100 or more employees and requires 60 days notice.

Why short notice is not automatically a violation

WARN allows reduced notice for unforeseeable business circumstances, faltering companies seeking capital, and natural disasters. An employer relying on one of those has to say so in the notice. What the 33 percent figure shows is that the 60 days people expect is not what they typically get.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Checked 2026-08-10. Plain-language summary, not legal advice. State legislatures amend these rules; confirm the current text before relying on it.

Recent Wisconsin Filings

All Closures Layoffs 202620252024
CompanyCityTypeWorkersEffectiveFiled
Foremost Farms USA Marshfield Closure 68 2026-12-15 2026-08-24
Samuel Pressure Vessel Group Tomahawk Closure 76 2026-08-04 2026-08-05
UnityPoint Health Madison Layoff 1 2027-02-28 2026-08-04
UnityPoint Health Not Provided Layoff 17 2027-02-28 2026-08-04
Sparhawk Trucking / Sparhawk Truck and Trailer Wisconsin Rapids Layoff 77 2026-07-30
School Specialty Fort Atkinson Closure 59 2026-09-25 2026-07-28
Prairie Farms Dairy Shullsburg Creamery Shullsburg Closure 43 2026-07-20 2026-07-20
Prairie Farms Dairy White Hill Cheese Shullsburg Closure 54 2026-08-14 2026-07-20
Centers for Independence-MCFI Home Care Milwaukee Closure 43 2026-10-31 2026-07-14
Thermo Fisher Scientific Middleton Layoff 69 2026-09-28 2026-07-08
Show all 132 filings ↓

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