The Challenge

QAD, a US-based global software solutions company, faced the need to significantly restructure and streamline its European HR organization.
The company had grown its HR presence to around 20 professionals across Europe but required a major downsizing to align with a new global operating model — ultimately reducing the team to five, and later to one regional HR lead.

The challenge involved:

• Managing mass redundancies and organizational restructuring across seven countries.
• Ensuring legal compliance with complex local labor regulations.
• Supporting remaining HR leaders and management teams through the transition.
• Maintaining operational stability and compliance while scaling down the HR footprint.

Given the high risk and sensitivity of the process, QAD required a seasoned external partner with deep European HR and legal expertise.

The Solution

Europe HR Solutions partnered with QAD’s global HR leadership to manage the full European HR transformation.

Our role included:

• Planning and executing mass redundancies across Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, France, and Spain.
• Ensuring compliance with local labor laws, consultation processes, and notice period requirements.
• Acting as local HR Business Partner (HRBP) for ongoing operations post-restructuring.
• Supporting management with employee communications, documentation, and transition plans.
• Conducting HR compliance reviews and corrective projects in remaining entities.
• Providing ongoing strategic and operational HR guidance as the European HR team was reduced.

Throughout the process, Europe HR Solutions maintained transparent communication with all stakeholders, ensuring each country’s restructuring was executed fairly, consistently, and fully within legal frameworks.

The Results

• Successful completion of multi-country downsizing with zero litigation.
• HR headcount optimized from 20 to 1 person without business disruption.
• Compliance and risk fully managed across seven jurisdictions.
• Continuity of HR support maintained through Europe HR Solutions’ retained HRBP services.
• Smooth transition to a new lean HR operating model aligned with QAD’s global strategy.

This engagement demonstrates Europe HR Solutions’ capacity to lead complex, cross-border restructuring while safeguarding compliance, reputation, and employee trust.