Europe’s Economic Recipe for the Pandemic: Keep Workers in Their Jobs

The U.S. and Europe are scrambling to shield staff from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. But although the U.S. is hoping to soften the blow for millions who have currently misplaced employment, Europe is taking a distinctive approach: stopping folks from finding fired in the very first spot.

In the earlier days, governments throughout the continent have deployed new programs—or prolonged present ones—to subsidize the wages of idled staff, making it possible for employers to keep them in their employment even if there is very little for them to do.