Strategic Oversight of Workforce Reductions: What College Presidents and Trustees Should Know About Layoffs, Reductions in Force, and the WARN Act

• Financial pressures may force institutions to consider workforce reductions, but these decisions carry serious compliance and reputational implications.
• Institutional leaders need to understand when layoffs, reductions in force, and WARN obligations require heightened oversight. 

Download the Report

• Workforce reductions should be aligned with institutional strategy and supported by clear, legally defensible selection and communication processes.
• Colleges and universities must evaluate layoffs for discrimination risks, bargaining obligations, and downstream administrative responsibilities.
• WARN Act compliance is a key consideration in large-scale reductions, and state laws may impose even stricter notice requirements.