Google and Amazon Struggle to Lay Off Workers in Europe
- Labor laws make it difficult to fire staff in France, Germany
- Voluntary departures and individual settlements are favored
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After announcing the largest rounds of layoffs in their history, US big tech companies are now learning how difficult it is to reduce headcount in Europe.
In the US, companies can announce widespread job cuts and let go of hundreds if not thousands of workers within months — and many have. Meanwhile, in Europe, mass layoffs among tech companies have stalled because of labor protections that make it virtually impossible to dismiss people in some countries without prior consultations with employee interest groups.