Cutting Ties Without Cutting Corners: Best Practices for Administering Mass Employee Layoffs

In January 2026, employer layoff plans hit their highest January total since the tail end of the 2008 global financial crisis , according to the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. United States employers announced 108,435 layoffs for January 2026 , up 118% from January 2025. Whatever unpredictable factors—including continued economic uncertainties, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), and unusually severe weather across much of the nation—may be to blame, employers need to have game plans in place in order to best administer these layoffs.