I already know some that are being denied due to their role, but very few. And based on the numbers, if they deny very few folks, then there won't be many people left to have a RIF in 2019. And I've heard from reliable resources, there won't be a RIF for at least a year or two after this. But, if they deny a larger % then they run the risk of a lawsuit if they then turn around and try to RIF those folks.
This is not the first time they've done this. They did it 15 years ago and a good % left. Then there were no major RIFs for a few years. Then as we hired more people and bought small companies, the numbers grew; on top of us "old timers" who stuck around. Therefore cuts had to start being made again.
It's business. Not always good business.. not always bad business.. but business none-the-less.