They want people to leave so they don't have to pay benefits an they can hire people for the lowest possible price, that's the strategy. Similar to euthanasia but without mercy. They also want to cover their butts so people can't sue them, they have been writing people up for anything and everything, so an already stressful situation increases exponentially.
Two plus two make four:
"Some received a meager severance and the offer to apply for their old jobs but without benefits and with less than half the pay."
Then you read
"I'm in an institutional store being taken over by Follett. Can't understand why Follett would still be trying to acquire new stores. 14% commission, guaranteed income to the university and Millions in upfront payouts doesn't make sense to me. Also they agreed to pay our salaries for up to a year (at least double of what they are paying Follett employees).."
Follett wasn't in the red folks they just want better stock prices, the new management has been saying all along.