People run corporations. When you see a round of layoffs it doesn't come out of mere cold blooded economic necessity. The leadership gets scared, and no longer feels optimistic thus they cut projects.
Sure, you can give all the money directly to the common people, but you'd end up having to do that forever since the wider economy would collapse as rich share holders first feel doubt, then have those doubts confirmed in a self fulfilling prophecy.
Common people should have non emergency sources of welfare, and governmental aid to rely on. If they don't, then the situation is aleady dire.
