Mark
CreativeMountainGames.com
(. . .) to state that they must have some sort of annual layoff policy is (. . .)
Evident. Apparently the anonymous source of Morrus and the report of Charles Ryan who was personally effected, as well as the annual layoffs all seem to be in agreement.
I doubt there are some evil suits twiddling their mustaches and cackling over who'll they'll axe this year.
Funny. Of course, that isn't something I put forth. In all likelihood, the people who were involved in canning other WotC employees some years ago aren't the same ones doing it this year. BTW, reductio ad absurdum only works if the point against which you are arguing hasn't already been confirmed.
It's a year-by-year decision, as it is for every company of decent size.
"Decent?" Your irony meter must be pegging about now.
It's simply a shame WotC hasn't learned, or taken the time to learn, how to change their business model to avoid this recurring problem.
So, in your scenario, WotC hasn't the institutional memory or collective intelligence to avoid a recurring problem, rather than a general policy that each year they will ensure their bottom line by making staff cuts. I'm interested to know why you think ill of them? In my own scenario I consider them corporate and neutrally unfeeling while in your scenario those running the division must not have the sense to adjust to an annual slip up that costs many employees their jobs. Between the two of us, I am actually the one giving those who work for the corporation the respect they deserve.