"shed over 130,000 people"

Question

I'm reading a textbook and in it, it says that a company employs around 120,000 people and after the company was reorganized into three customer-facing divisions. This company "shed over" 130,000 people; achieved without any compulsory redundancy.

At first I thought that to shed meant to let go, but that doesn't make any sense here as the number of people shed is more than the number of employees. Anyone know what "shed" in this context means?

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

Are you sure it is not saying that they used to employ around 250,000 and shed 130,000 during the reorganisation, leaing 120,000.

Oprah · Answer

Yes, I'm sure that the company started with 120,000 people.

Nona the brit · Answer

What does it actually say in the textbook? Can you copy it here?

Oprah · Answer

Hopefully, this will make it more clear.

"Crucial to BT's success has been a commitment to quality which began in 1986 and has become part of everyday life across the company. Amongst other things, this has resulted in BT businesses winning the European Quality Award and the UK Quality Award for Business Excellence in the 1990s.

The company employs around 120,000 people. 'Project Sovereign' in 1991 reorganized the company into three customer-facing divisions, Business Division, Consumer Division and Global Division, supported by a large infrastructure division (Networks and Systems). Between 1992 and 1997, during which time TQM-based self-assessment has been used extensively, BT shed over 130,000 people; achieved without any compulsory redundancy. Further 'globalization' orgainzational developments have taken place recently.

Despite unprecendented levels of competition, BT's business has continued to grow substantially and the company still retains around 83% of the total market share."

Thanks!

Nef · Answer

OprahHopefully, this will make it more clear.

"Crucial to BT's success has been a commitment to quality which began in 1986 and has become part of everyday life across the company. Amongst other things, this has resulted in BT businesses winning the European Quality Award and the UK Quality Award for Business Excellence in the 1990s.

The company employs around 120,000 people. 'Project Sovereign' in 1991 reorganized the company into three customer-facing divisions, Business Division, Consumer Division and Global Division, supported by a large infrastructure division (Networks and Systems). Between 1992 and 1997, during which time TQM-based self-assessment has been used extensively, BT shed over 130,000 people; achieved without any compulsory redundancy. Further 'globalization' orgainzational developments have taken place recently.

Despite unprecendented levels of competition, BT's business has continued to grow substantially and the company still retains around 83% of the total market share."

Thanks!

BT employs around 120,000 people NOW. But it sounds like the company was much larger BEFORE the reorganization of 1991-1997. I agree with your impression that to "shed" people is to have them leave the company one way or another. (I'm in the US and hadn't seen "shed" used in this way before. Interesting. I'm used to seeing that a company "downsized" its workforce. Different words, same idea)

Thanks, Nona.

Oprah · Answer

Thanks for everyone's reply. Now I feel more certain that my original interpretation was correct.

Nona the brit · Answer

1991 The company employs roughly 250,000 people. It reorganises itself into three divisions.

During the 5 year period 1992 -1997, it shed over 130,000 people

1998 onwards. It employs 120,000 people.

"shed over 130,000 people"

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