Europe's biggest companies face a structural problem that quietly kills innovation: the massive cost and bureaucratic burden of laying off employees. When workforce reduction becomes a nightmare scenario—both financially and legally—firms naturally play it safe. They avoid experimental ventures, risky pivot strategies, and emerging tech bets. The result? A continent that watches from the sidelines while competitors globally race into frontier markets. This isn't just a corporate HR issue anymore. It's become an economic competitiveness crisis. When risk-aversion becomes systematic, economic stagnation follows.