Hi Tori: No one wants to get laid off in today's economy. Unfortunately, tough decisions have to be made and have been made all over this country for the past year. It might be a noble thing to say "if you get laid off, I'm walking too!" I'm not so sure that will be the reality of the situation. Could you walk off the job if one of your coworkers got laid off because you didn't like it?? I know I could not. It is a difficult thing and my heart goes out to the people getting laid off AND the person responsible for carrying out the deed. I believe your friend has a difficult task before her. I also believe people will not walk off the job on principal. Most of us need our jobs in this tough job market. I wish your friend well. I would love to hear what others think.

Sarah is absolutely right. If they walk, they are not the kind of people you want working for you anyway.

With the unemployment rate as high as it is now, especially here in Michigan, the other workers would be crazy to give up their positions, and if they do, they're not worth having anyway. Good riddance!

In other words, call her bluff..if she has to do her job, I'm sure they are selective on why they are letting her go.

Your friend has nothing to worry about. She has no choice but to carry on with lay offs. We've had so many lay offs and as unhappy as it made me and many others around here, we're still here. No one wants to be laid off BUT no one is going to go voluntarily either - she'd have to quit and then you can't collect unemployment and that would be a terrible mark on your work record as "non-rehireable." This woman threatening to leave is just being emotional. Unless she has some other means of support she will stay too. She best be careful on what she wishes for as she may end up being one of the lay offs.

Seriously the threat made by that particular employee is way out of line. She is probably all talk and no bark. I wouldn't quit if my friend got laid off not with the economy is now and even if it was better I still wouldn't quit. Sounds to me like she thinks she is running the show on who stays and who doesn't when in fact it isn't her decision. I would lay her off if her job can be handled by her "friends" in her absence. If I were her I wouldn't be threatening anyone with anything bout lay offs whatsoever! She might regret those words. Professional attitude is still needed in this hard time when layoffs are happening everywhere. Realizing that you may be laid off and accepting it is a sign of professional attitude and maturity.

This threat held water 3 years ago. not anymore.

The threat of disrupting the office makes the statement that she has control over the business and the workers is grounds for dismissal. If she has that much control she should own her own business and hire all the folks that walk out in solidarity for her.

I think people forget that at any given time and any given day your services at a company can no longer become needed. Yes this is a hard job market and economy but jobs are out there and people are getting laid off and hired on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, redundancy is a part of life, especially with the economy the way it is. What sort of point is the employee trying to make? She is obviously scared that she will be one of those people laid off, and threatening to take others with her highlights that issue. People that are confident that they are making a valuable contribution to the company usually don't have to worry.