The incentives will help prevent the downward spiral that can occur following mass layoff events.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Then, they threw us a story on the 18 biggest mass layoff announcements of the past year.

FORBES: You Won't Make Money Believing Nattering Nabobs Of Negativity

In the first quarter of 2013, the U.S. saw 914 mass layoff events in the private sector, costing 154, 374 workers their jobs.

FORBES: America's Pink Slip Capitals

The industry had 184 mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2013, due to both insufficient demand and the completion of seasonal work.

FORBES: America's Pink Slip Capitals

Among the industries that took the biggest hits, construction had 178 extended mass layoff events resulting in 20, 071 job losses, largely due to contract completion.

FORBES: America's Pink Slip Capitals

After mass layoff announcements this fall, Society for Human Resource Management found that 23% of human-resource professionals surveyed have encountered significantly more cases of eavesdropping in the workplace over the past 12 months.

WSJ: Job Fears Make Offices All Ears

The WARN Act requires employers to provide 90 days of notice before a mass layoff, defined as a reduction in workforce by 250 jobs (or 33 percent of the total) at one site.

FORBES: AOL Axes Freelancers. Time to Dust Off the WARN Act?

The federal WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act requires employers to either give a full 60 days notice before closing a plant or engaging in a mass layoff or to pay dislocated workers 60 days of wages and benefits, including health insurance premiums.

FORBES: Layoffs And Lawsuits