Layoffs are in very large part about mimicking what other companies are doing. I have no doubt that most CEOs are honestly trying to make the right decision, bu

Layoffs are in very large part about mimicking what other companies are doing. I have no doubt that most CEOs are honestly trying to make the right decision, but (just like in pop culture!) the mere fact of what everyone else is doing has a substantial impact on the right business decision for you. If layoffs are a big trend this year, that substantially reduces both the reputational cost of doing your own layoff and the number of high performers you can expect to jump ship afterwards.