Mistake is a big word here. Maybe they figured the pandemic would provide the company opportunities it hadn’t foreseen and in order to be the first to capitalize they need to hire 30,000 people. Now those extra employees aren’t necessary, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t provide value earlier. I guess it’s a bit rude to hire someone knowing that their position will be eliminated in a few years, but that doesn’t make it a mistake, just ruthless.

Not a Facebook or a google fan or an apologist.

But isn't this a business decision? "Punishment" implies a fault, but the employees are not at fault here.

What would "taking personal responsibility" look like for management?

> What would "taking personal responsibility" look like for management?

The lowest bar would be not putting the blame on other, unnamed people.

Not sure because no one has ever seen it...