definitely not just underperformers. In my team, I was a senior and carried more Programs than anyone else, passed more Engineering Requests and volunteered for EVERY extra assignment.
Seniority makes you vulnerable because while you may carry a lot, HR only sees that ten people in a department make half what you do.
I hear that TEMPS are now a preferred class at L3 because they make $10.00 an hour versus more expensive employees that have benefits too..
Why not just fricking outsouce us to CHINA!