[skipkey]

> Which is to say, assuming you are not actively looking for the exit door, why even bother to do your job

There’s one reason - from experience, it’s a lot easier to find a job if you are currently employed. So if you think you will likely be a target in round 2 or 3, the rational thing to do is to try to stay employed as long as possible and switch jobs quickly. Also, the severance tends to get worse with each round. I saw one job where round one got 3 months severance plus a week per year, with insurance, round 2 got a month, and round 3 got 2 weeks. I found new employment between rounds 2 and 3.

It seems like there are quite a few people here who have never experienced a tight labor market.

[KittenInABox]

That seems to suggest coasting your job, not really doing it.

[gnicholas]

Really? Seems like the people most likely to get cut in round 1 are those who are identified as coasters. If you can avoid that label, your odds of sticking around until round 2, 3, or beyond are much better.

[dylan604]

Have you never heard someone say something along the lines "I'll keep showing up as long as they keep paying me"?