European workers are not excited about the idea of U.S. corporate culture spreading to their continent.
According to a survey of 1,000 workers in Italy, France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom conducted by career services platform Zety, there is growing anxiety that a harmful shift in workplace norms could be influenced by U.S. leadership, including the Trump administration and Elon Musk. About one-third of those surveyed said they would start looking for a new job immediately if their company adopted work policies they associate with the United States, such as return-to-office (RTO) mandates and weekly accountability reports.
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Nearly all of those surveyed (86%) said they believe U.S. corporate culture has been increasingly influential on European companies. More than three-quarters indicated they are concerned about Europe’s labor laws, work-life balance and holiday time. They largely pointed to an ‘always-on’ work culture in America and said such a dynamic would worsen their mental health. About one-third said they are worried about increased workplace surveillance and productivity tracking, while 20% said they are concerned about RTO policies and reduced remote work.
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As such, 95% of survey respondents said European labor laws should remain independent from U.S. corporate influence, and 59% consider protecting labor laws from U.S. influence a top priority. Nearly 70% support stronger labor laws in response to the increasing adoption of U.S.-style workplace policies.
When asked which attributes of U.S. work culture are appealing, 42% cited higher salaries and performance-based pay. Twenty-seven percent were interested in job opportunities within innovative industries, and 24% valued the American entrepreneurial mindset and career mobility. Only 22% said the U.S. focus on individual achievement was appealing.
"As U.S. corporate influence creeps into European workplaces, employees aren’t having it,” said Jasmine Escalera, Zety career expert. “They’re pushing back against policies that put work-life balance, job security, and mental health at risk. With more workers demanding stronger protections, European leaders could soon be under real pressure to keep the harsher side of U.S. corporate culture at bay.”
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
