I guess I don't understand the pushback against layoffs. You layoff based on future projections, not past performance. It would be sinister to layoff someone to prevent some kind of timed bonus but I've seen no reports of that. As far as I can tell its just about reduced investments and reduced project scopes.

It sucks and people deserve severance and unemployment but at the same time why is a reduction in workforce supposed to be immoral? Have severance packages been surprisingly light or something?