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The difference is, it's rarely an on-the-spot firing (at least in the UK). There are usually a few levels of "performance improvement" / "how can we help you get back on track?" before you get anywhere near "you're goneski".

Assuming we're just talking about "not quite the best" work performance here.

It’s really expensive to fire people. Not only do you lose out on the recruiting, the training, the profiling. You will have to do it all over again. I’ve never fired anyone in my entire career in the EU. I do not understand how it’s feasible to do it willy-nilly in the USA. Can anyone tell me that? Or is it much more rare than I think?

Firing is rare in the US. Layoffs (bulk termination of many people at once) are common, and much scarier because of US's weak social safety net.

Everyone is saying "EU" here, but the laws are all national, not at the level of the EU.

It also depends on how you choose to exercise your rights. Many countries have a lot of ways to push back if you are fired, but afaik they aren't automatic.

I've never fired and never been fired for sub-par performance. I'm from the EU. It must be ultra rare then.

Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal