It could mean the companies are sacrificing long term investment for short term gains. Maybe some of those employees are allocated to failing projects, but it's

It could mean the companies are sacrificing long term investment for short term gains. Maybe some of those employees are allocated to failing projects, but it's straight out of the MBA book to kill off stuff that maintains the company position long term or innovates in service of short term bumps in profitability. That guarantees large payouts for execs and shareholders.