It's PR, but it's also protection from legal trouble. Typically when you give some kind of severance package you require the recipient to sign away any right t

It's PR, but it's also protection from legal trouble. Typically when you give some kind of severance package you require the recipient to sign away any right to sue. Also, with large companies even during layoffs they're hiring for particular skilled positions. You don't want to get the reputation as an employer which mistreats its people.