This is a good example of how to create chaos and panic in your company.

A couple people come in to work and find something odd. Due to past rumors of a layoff, and the company's refusal to deny the rumors, they are now starting a full-on panic about layoffs that will infect everyone.

Now, it could be true... But it might not be.

I think you can pretty much guarantee that today will not be a productive day at Yahoo.

Why is it that corporations, specifically Yahoo!, have a tendency to lay folks off right in the middle of the holidays?

If I recall they had huge layoffs in '07 right before their infamous Xmas party.

All this does is destroy morale, produce more rumors, and takes a big hit on the company's overall image.

I do believe it has to do with the Tax code in the US, but I can't remember exactly why. The other thing is that it probably makes the quarterly numbers look better.

It was '08, I know :)

Just in time for the holidays (in my world, Christmas). Epic. Fail.

It's terrible to lose your job but this time of year is not the worst. A lot of budgets are started or renewed at the beginning of the calendar year. You have a better chance to land a new position than in spring or summer.

I'm writing this not to lessen the raspberries for Yahoo but to offer some light to those affected.

Also good to lose the job before holiday spending ramps up.

Best of luck to all involved.