Performance reviews aren't finalized. I'm also aware of low performers who were not fired and high performers (both in terms of prior perf ratings and proposed

Performance reviews aren't finalized. I'm also aware of low performers who were not fired and high performers (both in terms of prior perf ratings and proposed ratings for this year) who were fired. Performance was probably used as a sorting mechanism but it wasn't the primary one. If your team was chosen to have somebody fired, then get fucked - somebody is getting fired.