Agree. Happened at the IB I worked at. I remember a particular person who I was just baffled they kept around, so I asked his manager. "He's my designated fire-ee" I was told. "If in a given year I have to make a cut, he's the guy I cut and I know it won't affect productivity in the team. If someone leaves organically then he survives for another year". A lesson in perverse incentives.