[quote=moneymaker]When profitable companies layoff people is it basically corporate greed at work? [/quote]

Those who administer publicly traded companies (other than those organized under new provisions such as California’s Benefit Corporations) have a duty to maximize shareholder value. Whether they do it correctly, incorrectly or whether it is ethical to do so are separate issues. When you go to work at a standard, publicly traded company, you get a lot of benefits (all sorts of stock disclosures, etc.) but there are also the downsides, such as the risk that you will be downsized to keep the stock price afloat. If people refused to work for companies that operate to maximize profits, money would flow to companies organized under different principles.
For this reason, I like privately held companies (like In N Out Burger and Johnson Wax “a family company”). They can operate as they like and have more flexibility, and they don’t waste time and money pleasing the shareholders. For this reason, they provide a better value, in my opinion, but the likelihood of rising to the top in a family company is low, unless you’re related.
The best would be to start your own company, treat your employees the way you think they should be treated, and enjoy life. Hard to do, though.