This happened years ago to my coworker. The engineering firm started tracking everyones utilization rate. It was based on billing 120 hours per month. Lo and behold they found some of us working 145 to 160 hours per month (over utilized) and some people were under utilized. So this poor kid was tasked to inspected bridges, he had an electrical engineering degree and was supposed to be working in the power department. They needed help on one project and then he “became available”. No one noticed he was great working and willing to lend a hand to help the business.
Long story short – they laid him off in the morning and in the afternoon they hired him back. We was really upset and several people spoke up for him.
So one of more delicate partners spoke to him and apologized.
He was assigned to the electrical engineering department and has since become an associate.
Such piss poor planning. What a horrible day for him.
Did you ask about the other people laid off that day? Addition by subtraction.