RIF is not in CEO control. Businesses are impacted by current economy, CEO has to make adjustment according to current and near term future economy environment. None of us want our team mates to lose his/her job but payroll is the biggest costs.
Do you know whose pay is by far the biggest cost? The CEO's. He got around $13M last year. He could half that, still make a ki-ling, and save quite a few jobs in the process. Do you think that's what he's going to do? Of course not. Layoffs ARE on the CEO.