"Shedding" Jobs

         I've been bothered in tough economic times to hear the frequent use of the word "shedding" as in "the company is shedding jobs."  One of the meanings of the verb "shed" is to rid oneself of something not wanted or needed like shedding pounds through diet and exercise. And that's the connotation I hear when the economic, business, and employment reports come out. The economy is "shedding jobs," businesses are "shedding workers."    Please watch it, news media and economic analysts: those are people's livelihoods you're talking about!