[Wonder Warthog]

"Are you saying that people should have a “right” to a job and that companies should keep them on the payroll no matter how much it affects the firm negatively?"

No, he's saying that there are other management methods than layoffs that appear to have superior results. Better to become "lean and mean" BEFORE layoffs might be needed, and not have layoffs. Well-managed companies don't need layoffs.

[jimbo123]

This author has never worked in private enterprise, never run a company and never had P&L responsibilities. Typical pointy-heading liberal academic.

[Jagman]

The act of becoming “lean and mean” traditionally means doing more with less labor — that is, you increase productivity. If you can’t also increase sales a comparable amount, you end up with excess workers. If sales drop but productivity keeps rising as it is now, what do all the excess workers do, take turns washing the CEO’s car?

[DB]

Well managed companies significantly reduce the likelihood of layoffs - it doesn't eliminate them. Things happen that are far beyond the control or future vision of even well managed companies. Well managed companies by the very definition take calculated risks, all successful businesses do, but as risk suggests, it doesn't always go as planned. Many companies die because they become so large and bureaucratic (such as the bean counters having the final say) that they no longer can take risk in a productive way. They lose their future vision - which is never set in stone.

[Habibi]

“Well-managed companies don’t need layoffs.”

Government does not seem to be doing any layoffs (though some states will be forced to). Would you say, for the same reason, the governments are “well managed” if they don’t lay off workers?

I thought so. ;-)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I would say that is closer to what he meant.

I work for a mega-corp. My branch, which is well run has had no layoffs. There was not even a hint of it from our boss.

Across town the other branch has had to layoff about half of their sales and support staff.

Same area, same product, same customer base. Two different management styles.

[freedumb2003]

Well-managed companies don't need layoffs.

You left off the "Sarcasm" tag.