Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI Companies are replacing lower-performing workers with stronger talent to boost performance. It’s one way businesses are optimizing their workforces as hiring budgets tighten. The trend is playing out from early-career roles to the C-suite. With hiring budgets constrained, some companies are finding a different way to bring in talent: replacing workers with better ones. "There is just no appetite for mediocrity anymore," said Brent Orsuga, founder of the supply ch