Was your hiring/firing part of a stock market stunt?
The C-suite at most publicly traded firms is primarily compensated with stock. Those employees' primary jobs are to increase the stock price.
One way to attempt to increase the stock price is by publicly announcing large hiring events. This signals the firm is bullish on their future and needs more employees to keep up with their plans.
Many firms did this during the pandemic. Most of those employees were not organically needed. Their hiring was a stock market stunt.
The other side of this coin is announcing large firing events. This signals the firm is tightening up, focusing on their core capabilities, removing distractions.
Many firms are now doing this. These firings are also a stock market stunt.