Image Guide to Restructuring a Cross-Border Workforce Choose countries Choose the countries you want information on, or choose all for the full picture. Select specific jurisdictions to filter on Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia Canada China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Czechia El Salvador France Germany Guatemala Hungary India Indonesia Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Laos Mexico Myanmar Netherlands Nicaragua Nigeria Norway Panama Philippines Romania Serbia Slovakia South Korea Spain Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom US - California US - Illinois US - New York Vietnam Choose questions Choose the questions you would like answering, or choose all for the full picture. Reduction in workforce 01. Is there a concept of redundancy - based on a shortage of work or other economic reasons - as a justified reason to dismiss employees in your jurisdiction? If so, how is it defined? 02. In brief, what is the required process for making someone redundant? 03. Does this process change where there is a “collective redundancy”? If so, what is the employee number threshold that triggers a collective redundancy? 04. Do employers need to consult with unions or employee representatives at any stage of the redundancy process? If there is a requirement to consult, does agreement need to be reached with the union/employee representatives at the end of the consultation? 05. If agreement is not reached, can the restructure be delayed or prevented? If so, by whom? 06. What does any required consultation process involve (i.e. when should it commence, how long should it last, what needs to be covered)? If an employer fails to comply with its consultation obligations, what remedies are available? 07. Do employers need to present an economic business rationale as part of the consultation with unions/employee representatives? If so, can this be challenged and how would such a challenge normally be made? 08. Is there a requirement or is it best practice to consult employees individually (whether or not the employer is also legally required to collectively consult employees)? 09. Are there rules on the selection of individual employees for redundancy? 10. Are there any specific categories of employees who an employer is prohibited from making redundant? 11. Are there categories of employees with enhanced protection (e.g., union officials, employees on sick leave or maternity/parental leave, etc)? 12. What payments are employees entitled to when made redundant? Do these payments need to be made within a specified period? Are there any other requirements, such as giving contractual notice, payments into a central fund, etc. 13. If employees are entitled to redundancy/severance payments, are there eligibility criteria and how is the payment calculated? 14. Do employers need to notify local/regional/national government and/or regulators before making redundancies? If so, by when and what information needs to be provided? 15. Is there any obligation on employers to consider alternatives to redundancy, including suitable alternative employment? 16. Do employers need to notify local/regional/national government and/or regulators after making redundancies, e.g. immigration department, labour department, pension authority, inland revenue, social security department? If so, by when and what information needs to be provided? 17. If an employee is not satisfied with the decision to make them redundant, do they have any potential claims against the employer? If so, what are they and in what forum should they be brought, e.g. tribunal, arbitration, court? Could a union or employee representative bring a claim on behalf of an employee/employees and if so, what claim/s and where should they be brought? 18. Is it common to use settlement agreements when making employees redundant? 19. In your experience, how long does it normally take to complete an individual or collective redundancy process? 20. Are there any limitations on operating a business for a period following a redundancy, like a prohibition on hiring or priority for re-hire being given to previous employees? Restructuring/Re-organisation of the business 21. Is employee consultation or consent required for major transactions (such as business transfer, mergers, acquisitions, disposals or joint ventures)? 22. What are the remedies that are available if an employer fails to comply with its consultation duties? Can employees take action to prevent any proposals going ahead? 23. Is there any statutory protection of employees on a business transfer? Are employees automatically transferred with the business? Are employees protected against dismissal (before or after the transfer of employment)? 24. What is the procedure for a transfer of employment (upon a business transfer or within group companies)? 25. Are there any statutory rules on harmonising the transferring employees’ terms of employment with the existing employees’ terms of employment? Changing terms and conditions 26. Can an employer reduce the hours, pay and/or benefits of an employee? 27. Can an employer rely on an express contractual provision to vary an employment term? 28. Can an employment term be varied by implied conduct? 29. If agreement is required to vary an employment term, what are the company’s options if employees refuse to agree to the proposed change? 30. What are the potential legal consequences if an employer varies an employment term unilaterally? Areas to watch Areas to Watch Download your results as a PDF Save to PDF Contributing editors First Name Peter Talibart, Law firm Seyfarth Shaw First Name Kathryn Weaver, Law firm Seyfarth Shaw Contributors First Name Gautier Busschaert, Van Olmen & Wynant, Belgium First Name Tor Olav Carlsen, BAHR, Norway First Name Dina Ingebrigtsen, BAHR, Norway First Name Youliana Naoumova, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov, Bulgaria First Name Iliyan Kostov, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov, Bulgaria First Name Naiyane Xaechao, Tilleke & Gibbins, Lao PDR First Name Sayphin Singsouvong, Tilleke & Gibbins, Lao PDR First Name Jay Cohen, Tilleke & Gibbins, Cambodia First Name Chanvisal Lok, Tilleke & Gibbins, Cambodia First Name Carolina Soto, Arias, Costa Rica First Name Fabiola Tames, Arias, Costa Rica First Name Patricia Barboza, CGM, Brazil First Name Maury Lobo, CGM, Brazil First Name Zeynep Ünlü, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Sinan Tandoğan, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Duygu Türksoy, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Naz Özkaya, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Kyaw Min Tun, Tilleke & Gibbins, Myanmar First Name Till Heimann, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Christian Häußer, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Sophie Haubold, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Laurence Harvey Wood, Seyfarth Shaw, France First Name Kien Trung Trinh, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Sarah Galeski, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Dung Thi Phuong Le, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Pimvimol (June) Vipamaneerut, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Chusert Supasitthumrong, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Chomanut Arif, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Dusita Khanijou, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Ketnut Pukahuta, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Soojung Lee, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Ku Ja Hyeong, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Tae Eun Lee, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Kim Wansoo, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Christopher Mandel, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Marie Janšová, Legalité, Czechia First Name Radim Doležal, Legalité, Czechia First Name Martin Jirsa, Legalité, Czechia First Name Dániel Péter, Kinstellar, Hungary First Name Szabolcs Szilágyi, Kinstellar, Hungary First Name Rashmi Pradeep, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Ankita Ray, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Akshat Sahajpal, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Siddhi Kochar, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Shinya Tago, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Hiroki Fujiwara, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Landry Guesdon, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Hiroki Kitagawa, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Danny J. Kaufer, BLG, Canada First Name Kate L. Agyemang, BLG, Canada First Name Rafael Vallejo, Von Wobeser y Sierra, Mexico First Name Kristina Pavlović, Kinstellar, Serbia First Name Remus Codreanu, Kinstellar, Romania First Name Rashel Ann C. Pomoy, Villaraza & Angangco, Philippines First Name Indra Setiawan, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Ridzky Amin, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Tifanny Natalia, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Marintan Panjaitan, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Matúš Kočíšek, Kinstellar, Slovakia First Name Pamilerin Akabunwa, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Esther Randle, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Amarachukwu Nedolisa, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Lotus Cannon, Seyfarth Shaw, New York First Name Michelle Shamouilian, Seyfarth Shaw, New York First Name Siaska SSS Lorenzo, Arias, Panama First Name Vedran Kopilović, Kinstellar, Croatia First Name Ana Cid, Seyfarth Shaw, Spain First Name Joshua Ditelberg, Seyfarth Shaw, United States First Name Marie Claire Scullion, Eversheds Sutherland, Ireland First Name Kuanysh Kanlybayev, Kinstellar, Kazakhstan First Name Roland Gerlach, GERLACH Rechtsanwälte, Austria First Name Martin Moser-Castan , GERLACH Rechtsanwälte , Austria First Name Bence Törő-Govoreanu , GERLACH Rechtsanwälte, Austria First Name Sofia Bargellini, Seyfarth Shaw, Italy First Name Bertha Arguello, Arias, Nicaragua First Name Dana D. Howells, Seyfarth Shaw, United States First Name Matthias Oertle, Lenz & Staehelin, Switzerland First Name Lucas Stuurop, Lexence, Netherlands First Name Wan Li, Seyfarth Shaw, China First Name Leon Mao, Seyfarth Shaw, China First Name Maksym Tesliar, Kinstellar, Ukraine First Name Juanita Vera Trujillo, Seyfarth Shaw, Colombia First Name Employment Team, Seyfarth Shaw (UK) LLP, United Kingdom First Name Liz Gordillo, Arias, Guatemala First Name Rosa María Arenales, Arias, Guatemala First Name Eduardo Angel, Arias, El Salvador First Name Steve Crilly, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Lachlan Boucaut, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Emilie Riera, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Freya Booth, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Mary-Anne Nolan, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia Contributors First Name Gautier Busschaert, Van Olmen & Wynant, Belgium First Name Tor Olav Carlsen, BAHR, Norway First Name Dina Ingebrigtsen, BAHR, Norway First Name Youliana Naoumova, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov, Bulgaria First Name Iliyan Kostov, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov, Bulgaria First Name Naiyane Xaechao, Tilleke & Gibbins, Lao PDR First Name Sayphin Singsouvong, Tilleke & Gibbins, Lao PDR First Name Jay Cohen, Tilleke & Gibbins, Cambodia First Name Chanvisal Lok, Tilleke & Gibbins, Cambodia First Name Carolina Soto, Arias, Costa Rica First Name Fabiola Tames, Arias, Costa Rica First Name Patricia Barboza, CGM, Brazil First Name Maury Lobo, CGM, Brazil First Name Zeynep Ünlü, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Sinan Tandoğan, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Duygu Türksoy, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Naz Özkaya, BTS & Partners, Turkey First Name Kyaw Min Tun, Tilleke & Gibbins, Myanmar First Name Till Heimann, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Christian Häußer, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Sophie Haubold, Kliemt.HR Lawyers, Germany First Name Laurence Harvey Wood, Seyfarth Shaw, France First Name Kien Trung Trinh, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Sarah Galeski, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Dung Thi Phuong Le, Tilleke & Gibbins, Vietnam First Name Pimvimol (June) Vipamaneerut, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Chusert Supasitthumrong, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Chomanut Arif, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Dusita Khanijou, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Ketnut Pukahuta, Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand First Name Soojung Lee, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Ku Ja Hyeong, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Tae Eun Lee, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Kim Wansoo, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Christopher Mandel, Yulchon, South Korea First Name Marie Janšová, Legalité, Czechia First Name Radim Doležal, Legalité, Czechia First Name Martin Jirsa, Legalité, Czechia First Name Dániel Péter, Kinstellar, Hungary First Name Szabolcs Szilágyi, Kinstellar, Hungary First Name Rashmi Pradeep, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Ankita Ray, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Akshat Sahajpal, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Siddhi Kochar, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India First Name Shinya Tago, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Hiroki Fujiwara, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Landry Guesdon, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Hiroki Kitagawa, Iwata Godo, Japan First Name Danny J. Kaufer, BLG, Canada First Name Kate L. Agyemang, BLG, Canada First Name Rafael Vallejo, Von Wobeser y Sierra, Mexico First Name Kristina Pavlović, Kinstellar, Serbia First Name Remus Codreanu, Kinstellar, Romania First Name Rashel Ann C. Pomoy, Villaraza & Angangco, Philippines First Name Indra Setiawan, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Ridzky Amin, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Tifanny Natalia, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Marintan Panjaitan, ABNR, Indonesia First Name Matúš Kočíšek, Kinstellar, Slovakia First Name Pamilerin Akabunwa, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Esther Randle, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Amarachukwu Nedolisa, Famsville, Nigeria First Name Lotus Cannon, Seyfarth Shaw, New York First Name Michelle Shamouilian, Seyfarth Shaw, New York First Name Siaska SSS Lorenzo, Arias, Panama First Name Vedran Kopilović, Kinstellar, Croatia First Name Ana Cid, Seyfarth Shaw, Spain First Name Joshua Ditelberg, Seyfarth Shaw, United States First Name Marie Claire Scullion, Eversheds Sutherland, Ireland First Name Kuanysh Kanlybayev, Kinstellar, Kazakhstan First Name Roland Gerlach, GERLACH Rechtsanwälte, Austria First Name Martin Moser-Castan , GERLACH Rechtsanwälte , Austria First Name Bence Törő-Govoreanu , GERLACH Rechtsanwälte, Austria First Name Sofia Bargellini, Seyfarth Shaw, Italy First Name Bertha Arguello, Arias, Nicaragua First Name Dana D. Howells, Seyfarth Shaw, United States First Name Matthias Oertle, Lenz & Staehelin, Switzerland First Name Lucas Stuurop, Lexence, Netherlands First Name Wan Li, Seyfarth Shaw, China First Name Leon Mao, Seyfarth Shaw, China First Name Maksym Tesliar, Kinstellar, Ukraine First Name Juanita Vera Trujillo, Seyfarth Shaw, Colombia First Name Employment Team, Seyfarth Shaw (UK) LLP, United Kingdom First Name Liz Gordillo, Arias, Guatemala First Name Rosa María Arenales, Arias, Guatemala First Name Eduardo Angel, Arias, El Salvador First Name Steve Crilly, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Lachlan Boucaut, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Emilie Riera, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Freya Booth, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia First Name Mary-Anne Nolan, Seyfarth Shaw, Australia