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To: Peter Dierks who wrote (58155)	11/1/2012 9:05:38 AM
From: Peter Dierks	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

Senators challenge OMB's guidance on pre-sequester layoff notices By Michael Catalini National Journal October 3, 2012 Two senators have a few questions for the White House. Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire are seeking an explanation from the administration over its move on Friday to prevent contractors facing sequestration cuts from issuing layoff notices required by law. The senators say they are "seriously concerned" about an Office of Management and Budget memorandum and a Labor Department letter addressing the applicability of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. "In particular, we are concerned about the authority of the executive branch to instruct private employers not to comply with federal law," the senators wrote to OMB Ccting Director Jeffrey Zients. The WARN Act requires companies with 100 or more employees to give workers 60 days' notice before plant closings or mass layoffs. In this case, the Labor Department issued guidance in July saying that the layoff notices would be inappropriate because sequestration could be averted, National Journal reported. On Friday, OMB issued guidance saying that if sequestration occurs necessitating WARN Act notices and if the contractor followed Labor Department counsel, then resulting WARN Act liability costs could be covered by the contracting agency. The senators take issue with both administration positions, and in particular, worry about the potential cost burden the administration might be undertaking. "Although the precise amounts of the judgments and costs are unknown, they could potentially reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions of dollars, all of which would be paid for with taxpayers' dollars," the senators wrote. Grassley and Ayotte say they want written answers and documents to their 14 questions by Oct. 8. govexec.com

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (58155)

11/1/2012 9:22:12 AM

From: Hope Praytochange

1 Recommendation Respond to of 71588

The number of planned layoffs by U.S. firms jumped 41.1 percent in October to the highest level in five months a report said on Thursday.

Employers announced 47,724 planned job cuts last month, up from September's 33,816, according to the report from consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas. It was the highest level since May. U.S. automotive companies said they will let go of 11,615 workers,