it's better for everyone if you negotiate layoffs and firings beforehand. No surprises and everyone gets their day in court. That is how the union system works in Sweden.

American MBAs and HR managers are too cowardly to have tough discussions with their employees.

I was fired with no warning in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. Turns out I was the fall guy when the department had to cut costs because all the projects the director was coming up with to save money were actually costing the place more to implement. They said I wasn't good enough, but my one buddy there told me my work was just fine.

Gave me some bad self-esteem issues that I'm still working on years later, but I did get a WAY better job 4 days after being fired. Last I heard they've gone through 5 people trying to fill in my position after they realized they needed me.

Someone's had a talk with The Bobs.

I remember one past job when the company decided on a Friday to let someone go but thought it was best to wait until Monday morning to give them the news. Then he started the day and immediately got sacked.