> So Riccitiello said no layoffs were coming and then in less than a month started layoffs.
This isn't a statement of how good or bad of a leader Riccitiello is. Sorry, but "we're thinking about maybe, possibly doing some layoffs if whatever" is a really bad way to run a company. The answer is, and always should be, "No layoffs" until the decision is made to do layoffs, and then you do it as fast as the law allows to very quickly clear uncertainty. Layoffs suck, but telling everyone, "hey, I'm thinking we might do a round of layoffs next week" is a great way to make the damage far worse.
This isn't a statement of how good or bad of a leader Riccitiello is. Sorry, but "we're thinking about maybe, possibly doing some layoffs if whatever" is a really bad way to run a company. The answer is, and always should be, "No layoffs" until the decision is made to do layoffs, and then you do it as fast as the law allows to very quickly clear uncertainty. Layoffs suck, but telling everyone, "hey, I'm thinking we might do a round of layoffs next week" is a great way to make the damage far worse.