[Bahamut]

I have seen it quite a lot in software engineering in just my 5 years in the profession, happened to myself and many friends - hell, I was even in management last time it happened to me. Many times it came down to whether the people were a part of [insert manager's] inner circle/did whatever management wanted.

The stories are all too common, even at companies that supposedly treat their employees well. At will employment is a terrible thing.