Hacker News Reader

Comment by stego-tech | Hacker News Reader

Looks like this is just an empty excuse to justify their margins at the expense of people:

> The cuts allowed Accenture to say it would continue to expand operating profit margins at its historic annual rate of at least 10 basis points in the next fiscal year, a target that some analysts had worried might have to be dropped given the tough industry conditions.

The company itself is doing just fine, thanks for asking.

> The company said revenues grew 7 per cent to $69.7bn in the year to August, for a net income of $7.83bn, up 6 per cent.

They’re citing internal data to prop-up this AI narrative, too, and claim - like everyone else doing layoffs - that headcount is expected to grow in the coming year.

It’s basically a giant celebratory puff piece for Accenture. Nothing of substance in there if you’re immune to the usual corporate doublespeak.

View on HN

> Looks like this is just an empty excuse to justify their margins at the expense of people:

All tech companies are doing layoffs [1], Accenture are just trying to sell it as a good thing.

> They’re citing internal data to prop-up this AI narrative, too, and claim - like everyone else doing layoffs - that headcount is expected to grow in the coming year.

As everybody who has tested this stuff knows, the AI does not lead to massive gains in productivity. They may regret getting rid of safety critical engineers, or testing engineers.

[1] https://www.trueup.io/layoffs

> Accenture are just trying to sell it as a good thing.

Layoffs to increase profits are a good thing for shareholders. Not so much for those laid off of course, but who cares about those?

That's kind of a one-sided view. Yes, you need to treat your employees honorably, but a company isn't a jobs program, either.

Serious question I’d like you and others to consider: why shouldn’t they be [a jobs program]?

Seriously, think about it for a moment. We have built a global society on the singular foundation that one must work to survive, yet we do not provide guarantees of work to provide the wages needed for survival of the labor class. It effectively condemns the unluckiest among us to suffering and an early death solely because they could not find gainful employment for whatever reason - disability, illness, lack of skills, insufficient wages, missing credentials, regime policies, the list goes on.

In that context, shouldn’t we be mandating companies at least abstain from layoffs when they’re posting profits or engaging in share buybacks, for a set period of time? Should we not be mandating governments provide job guarantees and minimum wages that enable every worker to have a safe, livable home and nutritious food?

Just something to chew on, because you’re right in that companies aren’t a jobs program.

But maybe they should be.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com