I'm not sure if the culture changed, but when I worked for a firm it was generally known that if you sit on the bench to long you'll be let go.
However, This is likely in correlation to general reduced spending across the board causing reducing spending with firms. With all the cost cutting, most high cost consulting/outsourcing is the first on the chopping block.
Maybe, but by all accounts I have heard that there are a lot of people on the bench at Accenture. People are fighting to get staffed on projects.
Consulting firms are great when the economy is good and executives don't mind throwing money around. When budgets get scrutinized, those contracts get downsized or not renewed at all.
However, This is likely in correlation to general reduced spending across the board causing reducing spending with firms. With all the cost cutting, most high cost consulting/outsourcing is the first on the chopping block.