i've read here claims that because vz's is self-insured for medical covrage employees with higher recent or ongoing medical costs could potentially be viewed differently during workforce reductions. people were talking about chronic conditions recent hospital stays or having a baby shortly before a layoff.
i've also heard anecdotal reports that in at least one group affected by the last layoffs several of the people let go had significant recent medical expenses or ongoing medical issues. age was also mentioned but supposedly salary level did not appear to explain the pattern.
i have no way to verify whether any of this is actually connected to layoff decisions and correlation obviously does not prove that medical information was used.
has anyone else heard anything similar or seen patterns in their own group? especially interested in firsthand observations rather than speculation.