Even if somehow management makes the right call on laying off these people, the problem is those people leave behind a huge mess and it takes a lot of work and

Even if somehow management makes the right call on laying off these people, the problem is those people leave behind a huge mess and it takes a lot of work and years to untangle it. Management usually wants to keep the mess (made by people they hired) hidden from investors and clients. Untangling the mess becomes an unrewarded job.