The following article is a primer for the U.S.-trained human resources manager tasked with handling a pan-European reduction in force ("RIF") for an American company. It sets out the key elements of a RIF plan, concisely overviews the European legal landscape, addresses seven key issues concerning collective dismissals in six European countries, and provides country-by-country guidance on those issues. If, for example, you do not want one of your company's directors to land in a French jail because you did not follow the correct procedures concerning the collective dismissal of your company's Avignon-based workers, then this article is for you. The article is certainly not a substitute for personal advice from in-house counsel geared to the particular matter at hand, but should help lay the groundwork for an effective RIF plan.