Private vs public company layoffs 2026: how they differ

Public companies must disclose many layoffs in SEC filings, while private companies usually do not, so private-company cuts surface through memos, press reports and WARN notices instead. This week shows both paths. Angi disclosed about 300 roles in a Form 8-K filed November 3, 2026, per Fast Company, while private Canva's 1,271-person cut reached the public through TechCrunch's November 4, 2026 report.

What does a public company have to disclose about layoffs?

Public companies file with the SEC, and a restructuring that commits them to material costs is often reported on a Form 8-K. Our guide to SEC Item 2.05 explains the trigger and what the filing contains. Earnings reports and 10-Q or 10-K filings can also show restructuring charges. The result is a paper trail you can search, and public-company cuts appear on pages like Amazon or ServiceNow.

Disclosure is not complete even then. ServiceNow confirmed a restructuring in November 2026 without a headcount, per CTech by Calcalist, and Block has not said how many employees are affected in its second 2026 round, per NewsBytes.

How do private company layoffs become public?

Most surface through an internal memo that is shared or leaked, a company statement to a reporter, or a state WARN notice. There is no equivalent of the 8-K, so there may be no filing at all. Squarespace, which has been privately owned by Permira since 2024, confirmed through a spokesperson that it was cutting about 19% of staff, roughly 300 people, per TechCrunch on November 2, 2026.

Because the evidence is press-based, EjectSeat labels private events as "confirmed" only when there is a company statement, a quoted memo or a filing, and "reported" otherwise. Browse them on the private-company layoffs page or the Canva company page.

Does the WARN Act apply to private companies?

Yes. The federal WARN Act applies to covered employers based on size, not on whether they are public, and requires advance notice for qualifying mass layoffs and plant closings. Details vary by state, and some states have their own rules. Our guides cover how to read a WARN notice and what to do if your employer skipped notice. Notices for covered states are listed on the WARN tracker.

A gap is common. Canva's cut had no WARN notice we could find as of November 5, 2026, per our Canva article, which is not unusual when most affected staff are outside the US.

Are severance terms different at private companies?

There is no rule that makes them different, but private-company terms are usually only known if they are reported or shared by employees. Squarespace's reported package is at least 16 weeks of base pay plus tenure-based weeks, with benefits continued until May 2027, per TechCrunch. Block's reported US terms are at least 60 days' pay and seven weeks' base pay, plus one week per year worked, per NewsBytes. Use these as reference points, not guarantees. Before signing anything, read what to ask for in a severance agreement.

Equity is the other difference. At a private company your shares may be illiquid, so ask in writing what happens to unvested and vested equity, and any exercise window for options.

How can you check whether a private employer is cutting jobs?

Start with the places a private company cannot hide from, then use soft signals. Our guide to signs your company may be planning layoffs covers the soft signals in detail.

• Search the private-company layoffs page and the layoffs hub for the company name.
• Check state WARN databases, starting from the WARN tracker.
• Look for reporting from major business and tech outlets, and open the article rather than relying on a headline.
• Watch for funding, acquisition or leadership changes, which often come before restructuring.

You can also run a company through the EjectSeat risk check on the homepage.

What this means for employees

If you work at a public company, the filings are your early warning, and the numbers are searchable. If you work at a private company, assume less will be disclosed and plan earlier: keep your own records, know your equity terms, and read what to do in the first 48 hours after a layoff before you need it. For the national picture, see the layoff tracker.

Sources: Fast Company, November 6, 2026; TechCrunch on Canva, November 4, 2026; TechCrunch on Squarespace, November 2, 2026; CTech by Calcalist, November 5, 2026; NewsBytes, November 6, 2026; U.S. Department of Labor, WARN Act.