[mankyd]

> is it a really a bad thing?

It's great for the company. Not so much for the people.

It's a matter of perspective.

> The bullshit job phenomenon is the problem here.

Perhaps, but who's fault is that? Sounds like the company's problem. Who suffers from the layoffs however? Per your example, not the company.

[ytx]

One relevant question is would the fired person have been better off had they not been hired or the job didn't exist in in the first place? It's far from clear to me, but admittedly doesn't soften the blow either way.