Originally Posted by
mstateglfr
It can be both a contraction and a return to normal levels. In that respect it is a distinction without a difference since either way its dropped.
They did not think this would be temporary and these were not seasonal employees so this is a surprise, even if the expansion was in part due to covid supply chain challenges and surplus economic spending.
Sure, it could be both.
If it was hires due to COVID, then they shouldn't have been surprised: the "exception" was the hires (not the layoffs).
Originally Posted by
mstateglfr
distinction without a difference"
Is one of those phrases that sounds more clever than it is.