Correct me if I'm wrong but for Meta/Google, past layoffs in France, Germany, Netherlands were done on a voluntary basis. It also took many months between the announcement and the actual layoff and the severance was competitive.

One may argue that salaries are lower and there are less opportunities in tech in those countries - because of stronger regulation - but I think the layoffs procedures are objectively much more favorable for employees.

Layoffs don't happen the same way they do in the US, at least in Germany. It's expensive to lay someone off due to dual-party notice period requirements. "At will" is a foreign concept here.

Obviously it happens but I think you’ll have a hard time arguing that worker rights are as bad in the EU as in the US.

ITUC Global Rights Index (2025)

Europe: 2.78 Nordics: 1.0–1.2 Western Europe: 2.0–2.3

Americas: 3.68 United States: 4

I couldn’t find per state US numbers but the difference is obviously huge.

> happen all the same

No. They happen, but with a significant difference