Yeah what does NOT lying get them? Almost nothing. Laid off folks would still be upset about being laid off. If they lie they get a few more weeks of work from these employees.
It sucks but I wouldnt hold my breath on this ever changing. If things don't look good at your company interview elsewhere. Dont trust leadership because they will say what they have to to keep the business going, not to keep you employed.
Add to that that they probably already had a finalized list. And not lying would probably cause a panic that might cause many people not on the list to leave. It's just very disruptive to an established plan.
It sucks but I wouldnt hold my breath on this ever changing. If things don't look good at your company interview elsewhere. Dont trust leadership because they will say what they have to to keep the business going, not to keep you employed.