Conducting Layoffs in China & Europe

May 7, 2026

Get the latest employment law insights delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 4pm EST.

What looks like a routine workforce reduction in one country can quickly trigger regulatory landmines in another.

In China, a misstep in a mass layoff can stall your entire operation. In Europe, even a small Reduction in Force (RIF) requires a level of process, documentation, and justification that surprises even seasoned global employers.


This program cuts through the complexity.


Bringing together on-the-ground experts from China, France, Germany, Hungary, and Italy, we explore what actually happens when global workforce strategy collides with local law—and how sophisticated employers successfully navigate these challenges.


We begin with China, outlining the legal basis, thresholds, and key stages of mass layoffs, including government scrutiny and compliance requirements. From there, we turn to Europe, where local experts break down country-specific rules on how to effectively conduct layoffs and redundancies.

Listeners will gain practical insight into:


  • How mass layoffs really work in China—from legal thresholds to procedural requirements
  • What employers must do in Europe to ensure layoff decisions are implemented smoothly with the least amount of risk of liability
  • The hidden costs, timelines, and risks that can derail cross-border workforce actions
  • Practical strategies for foreign-invested enterprises operating in China
  • Key considerations for companies entering or expanding in European markets


This isn’t academic—it’s operational. Whether you're advising the business or executing workforce strategy across borders, this program provides the clarity needed to act decisively and avoid costly missteps.


Ideal for General Counsel and CHROs managing international operations.


This program is the first session in our Layoff Series.


Register below to be automatically taken to our on-demand video.

Recent Programming

By Allissa Delhagen July 15, 2026
Tune in to our second episode of our ELA Podcast Series on the Pay Transparency Directive, where we speak with leading employment lawyers across Europe about when and how the EU Pay Transparency Directive is being implemented in their country and what it really means for employers on the ground. We hope today’s discussion will help you understand the status of Pay Transparency legislation in Malta , what you should be doing now and how approaches to implementation are shaping up across Europe. Host: Aoife Brady ( email ) ( Travers Smith LLP / England & Wales) Guest Speaker: Pamela Dingli ( email ) ( GVZH Advocates / Malta) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
By Allissa Delhagen July 8, 2026
Nebraska has adopted its own WARN Act, creating significant new obligations for employers facing business closures and mass layoffs. In this episode, we break down the law's expanded 90-day notice requirement, new notice content and language obligations, covered employers, enforcement, key exceptions, and practical compliance steps before the Act takes effect on July 18, 2026. Host: Tara Stingley ( email ) ( Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, LLP ) Guest Speaker: Maddie Hasley ( email ) ( Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, LLP ) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
By Allissa Delhagen July 2, 2026
The EEOC has replaced its Strategic Enforcement Plan with a new National Enforcement Plan for 2026–2029, signaling important shifts in federal workplace enforcement priorities. In this episode, we discuss what employers need to know about the EEOC's renewed focus on intentional discrimination, DEI initiatives, religious accommodations, "anti-American" discrimination, workplace investigations, and the compliance fundamentals that remain essential. Learn the practical steps organizations should take now to prepare for the evolving enforcement landscape. Host: Tara Stingley ( email ) ( Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, LLP ) Guest Speakers: Mike Gardner ( email ) & Victor Cardwell ( email ) ( Woods Rogers ) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
By Allissa Delhagen June 22, 2026
Today, we are kicking off a brand new ELA Podcast Series on the Pay Transparency Directive, where we speak with leading employment lawyers across Europe about when and how the EU Pay Transparency Directive is being implemented in their country and what it really means for employers on the ground. We hope today’s discussion will help you understand the status of Pay Transparency legislation in Italy , what you should be doing now and how approaches to implementation are shaping up across Europe. Host: Marianne Parkinson ( email ) ( Travers Smith LLP / England & Wales) Guest Speaker: Francesca Pittau ( email ) ( ADVANT Nctm Studio Legale / Italy) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.