When Restructuring Gets Tough: Employee Negotiations and Control in High-Pressure Situations



Restructuring in China is no longer only a legal or operational challenge, it is an executive decision-making challenge under pressure.

According to the latest VDMA China Business Climate Survey, 14% of VDMA member companies in China plan to reduce their workforce within the next 3–6 months. Many executives are therefore facing complex decisions: terminations, role changes, relocations, or adjustments to compensation and employment models—all in an environment where legal exposure and emotional reactions are closely intertwined.

This executive workshop is designed around a two-lens approach:

· The Legal Risk Lens – What is legally required, what is negotiable, and where are the red lines in China?

Delivered by an experienced China business lawyer, this part focuses on executive-relevant legal clarity, risk exposure, and defensible decision-making.

· The Human Risk Lens – How do emotions, fear, and loss of trust impact negotiations, outcomes, and long-term performance?

Delivered by a senior executive coach, this part introduces pragmatic leadership and negotiation tools, including Nonviolent Communication (NVC), tailored specifically for high-stakes executive conversations.

Rather than treating legal compliance and "soft skills" separately, the workshop integrates both perspectives. Participants will work through realistic executive cases and see how legally correct decisions can still fail if emotional dynamics are ignored and how emotionally intelligent communication can reduce resistance without compromising authority or legal safety.

Participants will gain:

• Clear executive guidance on Chinese labor law risks and negotiation opportunities
• Proven high-stakes communication and negotiation frameworks used in emotionally charged conflict situations (e.g. FBI-style crisis negotiation logic).
• Concrete strategies to maintain trust, credibility, and psychological safety during restructuring.
• A clear decision-making logic for aligning HQ expectations with local China realities.

This is a closed-door, peer-level workshop for senior leaders who must make—and stand by—difficult decisions in uncertain times.

Target audience:

General Managers, Managing Directors, Senior HR Leaders, Plant and Operations Heads of VDMA member companies in China.

Event Details:

Executive Workshop

Location: Beijing, Kempinski Hotel

Date: March 24, 2026

Time: 8:30 – 13:30 (incl. networking lunch at Tavola)

Group Size: 12 – 20 Executives of VDMA member companies

Participation Fee: 3,000 RMB (excl. 6.76 tax)