As ridiculous as things have got here with the welfare state and the size of government, the problem is much worse in Europe. There is just no way they can continue to afford the government payrolls and social benefits they have.
The US has a chance of navigating out of the failing socialist systems. The cultural heritage of individual independence and government mistrust means it's possible. But Europeans exhibit nothing but obstinate rigidity, even with a more serious problem. It's a ticking fiscal time bomb.
Europe is not just one thing. There are many countries in europe that have very different labour laws and regulations.
South\Eastern Europe is now the place with the most growth, like an "up and comming" neighborhood, and you can get away with a lot more there.
Back home, most of my friends that have "starter" jobs, are actually doing it under the rug. Go to work, regurarly, get paid, but they don't officially result in the payroll of the company (to avoid all the obligations that come with it).
After a couple of years of work, once you gained some experience you move there, or somewhere else in a more stable status.
I am assuming a startup will probably be the same. First years it will all be under the rug. Remember, laws are made to be broken to a certain extent, but they also prevent large companies from treating employees just as a disposable thing, with no rights, no vacation, no health care, no paid maternity leave as you have in the US.
Sure some large companies do provide them, but some don't (ala Walmart), and this nation leaves it's citizen under the mercy of capitalism (which just wants you healthy enough to perform your duties).
Remember, Europeans work to live, Americans live to work.
> large companies from treating employees just as a disposable thing, with no rights, no vacation, no health care, no paid maternity leave as you have in the US.
My US company has those things. If it didn't, I'd find another company. Having lots of companies makes this feasible.
Where's home? Working under the table is a horrible way of doing a startup, because you have no legal grounds to go on, and certainly can't do equity that way.
Sounds a lot like Italy, where the high price of doing business forces things underground, thus giving people no legal redress should they have problems. Yuck.
The US has a chance of navigating out of the failing socialist systems. The cultural heritage of individual independence and government mistrust means it's possible. But Europeans exhibit nothing but obstinate rigidity, even with a more serious problem. It's a ticking fiscal time bomb.