Most companies have used layoffs to ax underperforming employees, survey finds [Video]

The use of layoffs as a tool for cutting costs is common among companies both large and small. But a new survey suggests that some employers have masked the true reason for why layoffs at their company took place.

The survey from Resume Builder, which polled 600 business leaders involved in layoff decisions at their companies, found that half said 75% or more of dismissals that took place at their company in the past year were not for budgetary reasons. What’s more, the survey found that 8 out of 10 respondents said their company has opted to layoff an employee they wanted to fire.

Top reasons cited by business leaders for choosing to camouflage performance-based dismissals as budgetary layoffs are maintaining company morale (62%), avoiding wrongful termination claims (59%), avoiding having to pay severance (54%), and avoiding …