I have seen this happen many times in big companies. Even people who clearly should have been fired long ago are kept around until the next round of layoffs. I think it is because it is simply easier on management as well as the fired employee&#x27;s themselves: &quot;it&#x27;s not you, it&#x27;s the recession&#x2F;company&#x2F;etc.&quot; Also seems to be the way to get rid to bad employees when they were worried about getting sued for descrimination because of sex&#x2F;race&#x2F;age&#x2F;etc.