WAshington, D.C. - Democrat Senator Charles Schumer is asking the Federal Department of Labor to investigate the abrupt closing of 23 Friendly’s restaurants, including 14 in Upstate New York, this past weekend.
According to Schumer, it appears Friendly’s either ignored or found a loophole to skirt a federal law, known as the WARN Act, that requires employees to be given at least 60 days’ notice in advance of large-scale layoffs.
In a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, Schumer asked for an investigation.
The WARN Act allows employers to give workers 60 days’ pay in lieu of the notice.
Friendly’s has said it will offer employees at the closed restaurants opportunities at other locations or severance payments and other assistance