Are companies required by law to provide severance?
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Here is a WARN tracker site.
Centene only has 5 listed since 2020 in 2 states, but we all know they have significant layoffs yearly, but that is because they provide the required notifications.
https://www.warntracker.com/company/centene-management-company
Because of WARN Act, they need to provide either a set limit of time notification (where you will still be employed and earning your salary/hourly pay) or provide severance for that same set period of time. Limits are state specific.
This is why in many states WARN is not "activated" / reported because the companies fulfill the state requirements by a combination of notification period and severance.
Many companies will go beyond the requirement and provide severance based on number of years.
I believe the most common requirement is 60 days either notice or severance, but again the full requirement is state specific. Some states requirement a WARN report even when giving the required notification.
For US Employees, NO
NO
employment is "at-will," an employer can let you go at any time without a parting package. Executives have contracts that guarantee a parting package. If there was a mass layoff, WARN would kick in if they didn’t notify you within the guidelines. This is one reason they make sure to slide under the WARN radar. One day it may pay off.