Does my employer have to notify me in advance that I’m being fired?

Your employer does not have to give you advance notice that you are being fired unless you have an employment agreement (for example, by having a formal written agreement or by virtue of your employee handbook) which specifies that the employer must provide written notice before you can be terminated. If you are a union member, your employer may not be able to fire you without first complying with the disciplinary procedures established and required by your union. Similarly, if you are a public employee, your employer must comply with due process requirements in firing you. Finally, if you are being let go as a part of a mass layoff (which is defined as a reduction of at least 33 percent of the employees in a company of 150 or more individual employees), you are entitled to a minimum of 60 days notice.