Experts in restructuring business and handling layoffs say that understanding local rules and traditions is a necessity. William Werdenberg, an experienced turnaround consultant, points out that the countries vary greatly in laws and culture regarding layoffs. For example, in the U.S. cutting workers can be done on the basis of a business perspective with as many workers being laid off as necessary to turn a company around. However, in other countries there are political, legal, and cultural restrictions, sometimes making it less risky to marginalize a worker rather than firing them.
See "The Workplace: Lowering the boom, worldwide", Thomas Fuller, International Herald Tribune, January 11, 2005