Yep... over here the awards for layoffs mount over time... a new employee can be fired with relatively low severance expenses, but someone with 2 years or more

Yep... over here the awards for layoffs mount over time... a new employee can be fired with relatively low severance expenses, but someone with 2 years or more (like myself) is looking at 5 months' salary plus bonuses if he's fired. Besides de-incentivizing hires, it also means that switching jobs has a huge penalty (not having the "parachute") and in a small market it's tough to take the jump. (my current situation)