Layoffs are sometimes a necessity due to a weak economy or major business inflection even with strong leadership at the helm. Typically this situation at the most happens once in 5 years. This protects the company and considers the long term well being of employees. This does not describe Cisco’s practices....
Cisco has chosen an unethical business practice of ongoing layoffs!
This reflects lazy and poor leadership. It harms employee health and does not view employees as a stakeholder of the company. It only views them as an opex expense. It also focus on the wrong business metrics for a healthy technology company. Eg the poor growth of Cisco revenue compared to other technology companies.
Cisco needs a technology leader at the helm not some sales guy running the company like a vc or bank. “Knowing math” does not make one a technology visionary. However It can make you hyper focus on the wrong metrics though.
So yes I make it my business to ensure people considering Cisco as an employer know their practices. What difference does it make how long ago someone was laid off? What matters is how long Cisco has been executing this way.