The company could put them to some use, or they could get capital and launch their own ventures. It's equivalent from a market perspective, except the one you suggest requires unnecessary coercion (forcing the employees to work on something they may not have signed up for).
At the end of the day, the american market place is distinguished in that venture capital, especially in tech, is very accessible. Being laid off seems to be a bonus in the hunt for VC money.
It's the same reason companies return dividends. Sure, they could use the money for R&D and launching a new product, or they could send the money to investors so that they can scour the marketplace for a new technology of their own choosing for investment. The first one unnecessarily takes investor money for a project they may not have signed up for, whereas the former maximizes their freedom to invest in what they find interesting
At the end of the day, the american market place is distinguished in that venture capital, especially in tech, is very accessible. Being laid off seems to be a bonus in the hunt for VC money.
It's the same reason companies return dividends. Sure, they could use the money for R&D and launching a new product, or they could send the money to investors so that they can scour the marketplace for a new technology of their own choosing for investment. The first one unnecessarily takes investor money for a project they may not have signed up for, whereas the former maximizes their freedom to invest in what they find interesting