(November 19, 2025) – With critical regulatory deadlines looming in Europe and U.S. policy shifts sowing widespread confusion, European employers face new challenges in managing key workplace issues—from artificial intelligence (AI) usage and inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D) programmes to pay transparency and in-office work policies.
That’s the topline takeaway from the 2025 European Employer Survey Report, released today by Littler, the world’s largest employment and labour law practice representing management. The eighth annual survey was completed by more than 400 human resources executives, business leaders and in-house lawyers from across Europe, 64% of whom hold C-suite or leadership positions.
Regulatory Uncertainty Persists as Compliance Deadlines Loom
Next year, key provisions of the European Union (EU) AI Act impacting employers go into effect, along with new obligations under the EU Pay Transparency Directive (PTD). Despite these major regulatory changes on the horizon, the survey data shows that European employers may face readiness challenges.
For instance, just 18% of respondents say their organisations are very prepared to comply with the EU AI Act, while 20% indicate they are not at all prepared—the latter matching the proportion who said the same in Littler’s 2024 survey.
“Our survey suggests that there is currently a lack of preparedness for the EU AI Act, which is a concern given the scale of the law’s compliance obligations and the significant...
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