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Why is every layoff 10-15%?

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Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#2
Interesting, but I think they're over-thinking it. A lot.

At any given moment, most companies can probably justify cutting 10-15% of dead weight. But when you cross that line, that's a much different smell. The most talented get a whiff, update their CVs and head for the door.

The goal is to cut the bottom and leave the top. Take off too much bottom and your top will leave "voluntarily".

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#3

Interesting, but I think they're over-thinking it. A lot. At any given moment, most companies can probably justify cutting 10-15% of dead weight. But when you cross that line, that's a much different smell. The most talented get a whiff, update their CVs and head for the door. The goal is to cut the bottom and leave the top. Take off too much bottom and your top will leave "voluntarily".

Yeah, I was going to say, the average BigCorp has probably 30-40% dead weight. So cutting close to half of that is probably not a terribly heavy lift. Most managers already have a stack rank, in their head at least.

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#4

Interesting, but I think they're over-thinking it. A lot. At any given moment, most companies can probably justify cutting 10-15% of dead weight. But when you cross that line, that's a much different smell. The most talented get a whiff, update their CVs and head for the door. The goal is to cut the bottom and leave the top. Take off too much bottom and your top will leave "voluntarily".

Exactly. Take a look around and imagine your company with 10-15% less.

Most people don't find that such a terrible idea.

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#6

Interesting, but I think they're over-thinking it. A lot. At any given moment, most companies can probably justify cutting 10-15% of dead weight. But when you cross that line, that's a much different smell. The most talented get a whiff, update their CVs and head for the door. The goal is to cut the bottom and leave the top. Take off too much bottom and your top will leave "voluntarily".

Yeah, I was going to say, the average BigCorp has probably 30-40% dead weight. So cutting close to half of that is probably not a terribly heavy lift. Most managers already have a stack rank, in their head at least.

Yeah, exactly, and you only actually use 10% of your brain. Probably don’t need two hemispheres to be honest.

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#7
Decimation is a concept going back to ancient times. The Romans would punish units by having every 10th soldier killed by his fellow legionnaires.

It’s a number big enough to reduce cost and create fear but not enough to cause panic.

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#8

Interesting, but I think they're over-thinking it. A lot. At any given moment, most companies can probably justify cutting 10-15% of dead weight. But when you cross that line, that's a much different smell. The most talented get a whiff, update their CVs and head for the door. The goal is to cut the bottom and leave the top. Take off too much bottom and your top will leave "voluntarily".

No post body was provided.

Re: Why is every layoff 10-15%?

#9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I was going to say, the average BigCorp has probably 30-40% dead weight. So cutting close to half of that is probably not a terribly heavy lift. Most managers already have a stack rank, in their head at least.

Yeah, exactly, and you only actually use 10% of your brain. Probably don’t need two hemispheres to be honest.

Since we know that to be false, I assume you're just being a smartass. If you disagree, there are more polite, constructive ways to say so.
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