Does the secret to success lie in the middle man? Middle managers are vital to the success of a workplace, Business Insider reports — despite increasingly getting the boot of late, as companies sacrifice their middle men on the altar of economization.

Layoffs, layoffs, layoffs: Some of the world’s biggest companies have looked to reduce “ middle management bloat,” with Amazon and Meta among those cutting managerial positions amid what Meta has dubbed a “year of efficiency.”

So noticeable is this trend that it’s been called the “great flattening,” with large companies looking to scale down to a more simplified, horizontal structure following mounting increases in managerial layers on the back of a period of unprecedented growth. AI and growing automation have also played their role in making some middle management positions redundant, Big Tech executives argue.

A not-so-sunny outlook: Those mid-career professionals caught in the crosshairs of this shift in corporate strategy are fairly short on alternatives, with 42% fewer jobs in this tier being advertised in October 2024 compared to in April 2022.

You might want to think twice before jumping on the bandwagon, though. While companies cite increasing “corporate efficiency” as a reason to cut jobs, studies have shown middle managers are key to executing leadership mandates on the front lines, Forbes writes. They also play an important role in maintaining employees’ performance and well-being, according to McKinsey partner Bryan Hancock.

Bezos’ Blue Origin is lifting off into space’s big leagues: Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into Earth’s orbit early Thursday morning, marking a milestone in its longstanding rivalry with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Reuters reports.

Second time’s the charm: The successful launch came after the company’s first attempt — scheduled for Monday — was called off due to ice buildup on the rocket’s propellant line. The liftoff elicited effusive cheers from employees, with Blue Origin VP Ariane Cornell announcing the achievement moments after the rocket’s second stage reached orbit.

Standing 30 stories tall with a reusable first stage, New Glenn is Blue Origin’s answer to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, boasting a similar payload and responsible for transporting satellites into space. New Glenn is expected to be a key part of Bezos’ Project Kuiper, a high-speed internet satellite network meant to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. For now, Kuiper satellites will hitch a ride on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, but New Glenn is expected to take over once fully operational.

More players in the space race could lower the cost of reaching the cosmos: Blue Origin’s successful launch bodes well for the commercial space race’s future, with increased competition and new innovations — like New Glenn’s reusable design — likely to lower the cost of satellite deployment and other space-related activities.

It’s not yet time for Blue Origin to rest on its laurels, though: Despite a monumental step forward, the company remains years behind SpaceX — a reality underscored by its current reliance on Musk’s rockets. The company’s slow-and-steady approach, symbolized by its tortoise mascot, contrasts sharply with SpaceX’s rapid-fire development and frequent launches. We’ll just have to wait and see whether the tortoise or the hare wins this particular race.

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