I'll give you a factor of two - three seems a bit much to me. (Perhaps we're not quite talking about the same thing though, I'm not sure.) I'm surprised you w

I'll give you a factor of two - three seems a bit much to me. (Perhaps we're not quite talking about the same thing though, I'm not sure.) I'm surprised you would say that laying off people in the UK is "not actually that hard", though - in my experience, at companies where the HR department actually insist that matters are handled correctly, it can be an extremely onerous and lengthy process, fraught with difficulties and complexities (like "constructive dismissal") at every turn. Firing contractors is easy - ask them not to come back in. If their contract stipulates some sort of notice period (rarely more than a fortnight), pay them not to come in for the remainder of it.