is it possible that this is all a response to falling stock price.
it seem historically a quick fix for any CEO to bump the stock price is to make layoffs, and it seems to work. and i don't think any of those companies are strapped for cash
I don't think it's the stock price so much as this being good opportunity to fire people who're no longer wanted by the company (at the salary they're collecting), without the reputation loss that usually comes with that.
Soon they will start hiring again, quite possibly finding better candidates at a lower salary.
most good ceos, and definitely ceo's at this level, know not to overreact to stock price which is very macro and short term driven, when they should be playing the 10-20 year game.
it seem historically a quick fix for any CEO to bump the stock price is to make layoffs, and it seems to work. and i don't think any of those companies are strapped for cash