The United States, unlike most Western European nations, does not generally provide workers with significant protections against layoffs and firings. Although firings and layoffs based on some discrete criteria are prohibited by law -- including race, religion, and gender -- as a bedrock rule in American jurisprudence employers have the right to hire and fire as they see fit based upon the economic necessities of their business operations. Indeed, employees generally have little recourse in American courts to challenge the rationale for their firings or layoffs.

Contrast that with Western Europe, especially in countries such as France and Germany, which provide workers with significant protections against firings. In fact, in many European nations employees operate under social contracts that make it virtually impossible for businesses to engage in firings without significant bureaucratic hurdles and opposition from entrenched and powerful labor organizations.

Do you think that the United States should incorporate greater protections for workers against layoffs and firings? Do you believe that the legal premise of at will employment still has relevance in the modern workplace?

What implications, if any, would increasing worker protections have upon the ability of American companies to compete globally? Have worker protections ultimately hurt European industries concerning their abilities to compete in the global marketplace?