[nicoburns]

Typically employment isn't an absolute right. A company can always lay you off for no reason. They just have to compensate you X weeks/months pay (often linked to length of tenure) in order to do so if there is no cause. It does put an additional burden on companies, but the benefit to employees is huge (losing your job isn't an immediate crisis) and it doesn't seem to overly affect the availability of jobs.

[throwaway71271]

at least not in The Netherlands, you cant lay off one person, laying off is very complicated process, and then after you lay them off you cant just hire new people on their place, etc.

[gruez]

Isn't this what unemployment supposed to solve?

[Sohcahtoa82]

In theory, yes. In practice, no, because the unemployment office can be slow and it can take weeks to receive your first payment. Before then, rent could be due and you still need to eat.

For most of us on HN, it's likely not a big problem. I personally have enough money stashed that I could go up to 6 months without a paycheck. But for someone making $9/hr that never has more than 2 paychecks' worth of money in their accounts, it's a disaster.

[nicoburns]

That depends on your jurisdiction. In countries where they pay a percentage of salary for a period time (e.g. 80% for 3 months) then that definitely works. Here in the UK, state provided unemployment payments are very low (think around minimum wage). That likely won't cover costs if you're used to a larger salary. Employer provided unemployment payments are meant to cover that transition period.