Mattel Layoffs in Los Angeles: Your Severance Rights

Mattel filed two WARN notices for Los Angeles in 2026: 89 employees in January, 65 more in May. If you worked at the El Segundo headquarters on Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, or any of Mattel's other brands, you received a severance agreement. Here's what matters before you sign.

Here's something most people don't realize: severance agreements are negotiable. The offer you received is a starting point, not a final number. Employees negotiate better severance packages with the help of an attorney every day, and the results are often meaningfully better than the initial offer.

We review and negotiate severance agreements on contingency. That means no upfront cost to you. Our fee comes only from the additional amount we negotiate above what you were already offered. If we don't improve your package, you don't pay. There's no downside to having an attorney look at what you've been given.

Two Rounds, Two WARN Obligations

Each round independently triggers California's Cal-WARN Act. Eighty-nine employees in January exceeds the 50-employee threshold. Sixty-five in May exceeds it again. Mattel owed 60 days' advance notice for each round. If they didn't provide it, affected employees may be owed up to 60 days of pay and benefits on top of severance.

Multiple rounds also raise questions about the company's overall workforce strategy. Were these truly separate decisions, or part of the same restructuring? An attorney can evaluate how the timing affects your rights.

Mattel Has Been Around Since 1945

That means long-tenured employees. Some people at Mattel have been there for decades. Long tenure creates larger unvested equity positions and stronger potential claims. Mattel is publicly traded (MAT on NASDAQ). Unvested RSUs vanish at termination. For someone who's been there 15 years with significant grants, that's a major financial hit. Negotiate for partial accelerated vesting.

OWBPA Is Especially Relevant Here

With a workforce that includes many experienced, long-tenured employees, OWBPA protections matter. If you're over 40, you get at least 45 days to review in a group layoff. Mattel must provide age and title disclosure. You get 7 days to revoke.

If older, more experienced employees were disproportionately affected by the layoffs, the OWBPA disclosure helps you evaluate that before waiving your age discrimination claims.

South Bay Employment Context

Mattel is headquartered in El Segundo, in LA's South Bay. Consumer goods layoffs don't get the same media coverage as tech layoffs, but the severance issues are the same. Non-competes void under Section 16600. Final pay including PTO on your last day per Labor Code 201-203. The release waives all claims.

If you were part of the Mattel layoff, our employment attorneys can review your severance agreement. LA County Superior Court. Free consultation.