This is the last day of working a LMT for many. The slow march to the gallows for those who must go through the checkout procedure. I wonder if they’ll be any suicides over this needless event. Was this preemptive layoff really necessary? I guess it was a good time to get rid of employees whose supervisors did not like. Just before the holidays. Merry Christmas, hardly.

What is to come next?

• An email from corporate came out saying that all senior level management (M1 and above) will be getting training in how to lay people off. The plan is to do this in February.

• They are well aware of what critical skills they are short of and those with these critical skills are safe.

• The layoff ranking is being done by looking at your last 3 years of Performance Review System results (2007, 2008 and 2009). If you have at least one single year in which you scored “High Contributor” you are safe. If you scored “Standard” in all three years or below that then you are at risk.

• Program/Department groups have been told that they have to select at least on person as a “Basic” contributor. If you get a basic this year you are evidently headed for the door.