Conducting Layoffs in China & Europe

May 7, 2026

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 • October 29, 2026
What does the future of DEI in higher education look like under Title VI? Tune in for a fast-paced, thirty-minute briefing on Title VI discrimination claims in higher education — where the law stands, how the administration is enforcing it, and what colleges and universities should do now. Host: Marcia DePaula ( email ) ( Steptoe & Johnson PLLC / Western Pennsylvania) Guest Speakers: Derek Ishikawa ( email ) ( Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP / California) & Mica McKinney ( email ) ( Ray Quinney & Nebeker P.C. / Utah) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
By Allissa Delhagen • October 26, 2026
117: In this APAC AI Vlog, Lilian Hsu ( Lee, Tsai & Partners / Taiwan) surveys AI legal issues for Taiwanese employers in October 2026 — from AI adoption across the employment cycle and the Ministry of Labor's forthcoming guidelines on AI use and labor rights to fairness, privacy, and the limits of AI-driven workforce reductions under Taiwan's general labor laws — and shares three takeaways for adopting AI at work. Explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence across the Asia-Pacific region. This vlog is part of a series highlighting AI developments, experiences, and conversations shaping the region — bringing local voices and insights into the wider global AI dialogue. Learn more and register for these complimentary webinars, podcasts, and vlogs: https://webinars.ela.law
By Allissa Delhagen • October 21, 2026
Tune in to our fourth 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 Greece , 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: Kelly Papadaki ( email ) ( Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm / Greece) Support the show  Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
By Allissa Delhagen • October 12, 2026
116: In this APAC AI Vlog, Jamie Goh ( Shearn Delamore & Co. / Malaysia) surveys AI legal issues for Malaysian employers in October 2026 — from the AI Nation 2030 agenda and human accountability for AI-assisted employment decisions to limits on employee monitoring and data protection under the amended PDPA — and shares three takeaways for adopting AI at work. Explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence across the Asia-Pacific region. This vlog is part of a series highlighting AI developments, experiences, and conversations shaping the region — bringing local voices and insights into the wider global AI dialogue. Learn more and register for these complimentary webinars, podcasts, and vlogs: https://webinars.ela.law

Join Our Weekly Emails

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

Subscribe to Our Weekly Emails

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