Rumors of 20+ year senior guys possibly getting laid off. Thats huge. So many moving mouths but no muscle to show.
Isn't this blatant age discrimination? If this does happen and people who are affected are mostly in the same (higher) age group, I think there's a good chance that the company could be sued.
That's why the lawyers work with HR before the list is finalized. Like every company, they start with the high salaries and get as many of those as the law allows without falling into 'discrimination' territory because it was all middle-aged white dudes. Then they further cover their rears by making a severance lump sum payment contingent upon the signing of what amounts to a general release... so even if they went over... nobody's going to sue.