Letting go of employees requires care and sensitivity, with both human resources and legal implications. In-house lawyers at U.S. companies tasked with carrying out a reduction in force may see the process as challenging and stressful. But if the employees are based outside the U.S., it's probably going to be a whole lot more complicated.

A recent teleseminar from Reed Smith, “Global Reductions in Force,” looked at labor and employment law in the U.S., France, the U.K. and Germany, and found that companies face more barriers and complications when carrying out reductions on the other side of the Atlantic.

The differences between reductions in force under U.S. and European law begin in the very decision of whether it's legally justifiable to let workers go. David McAllister, a U.S.-based partner in the labor and employment group of Reed Smith's litigation department, told listeners that the U.S. has “much more latitude” when it comes to terminations.