Layoffs, White & Case

White & Case (Minor) Layoff Delay: A Purim Miracle?

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Update (5:35): We understand that White & Case began informing individual associates of the firm’s decision this afternoon.

We reported yesterday that White ‘n & Case sent out a firm-wide memo announcing the layoffs of 200 associates and 200 staff. However, we’re hearing that there’s not yet blood on the dance floor, as no layoffs occurred yesterday, at least not in the NY office. But there’s still panic at the disco:

I don’t think they’ve told anybody whether they are fired or not fired yet. Odd planning since they sent out the message today. Just got everybody worried.

Rumors are flying about why there’s a lag between the memo and the axe, as only the most powerful force would seemingly able to stop the engines of a layoff express already in motion. That mighty force, friends, is Purim.

A couple people said that it would be later in the week…and mentioned that this was because of Purim. I have NO IDEA if this is because people heard something from a valid source or just speculation because, as you know, tomorrow is Purim.

For those of you unfamiliar with the festival that is about as relevant to Judaism as Groundhog Day is to Americans, Purim is a costume holiday in which Jews commemorate their deliverance from death at the hands of the tyrant Haman. Haman conspired to kill the Jews and drew lots to determine the day on which he would hang them from the gallows he had built, but his plan was foiled by Queen Esther and Mordechai, with God pulling up the rear.

Find out how righteous White & Case may be observing the hamentashen holiday, after the jump.

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In temporarily abstaining from layoffs, White & Case not only celebrated the Purim story, but also reenacted it. White & Case built the gallows by sending out a memo announcing terminations, and then drew lots to see who would hang. Then, just as the associates were to perish, the firm wrought a latter-day Purim miracle and spared them their jobs …until Wednesday:

Layoffs are supposed to happen Wednesday or later.

For Jewish associates, the deliverance from firing (at least until later this week) is merely additional reason for merriment on this most joyous occasion, but associates of other persuasions may handle the reprieve differently. Says a tipster:

To give it a Christian spin, there is a story that…Saint Francis was tending his garden when a follower asked him, “Brother Francis, what would you do if you were told you would die this afternoon?” He stopped for a second then said, “I would continue to tend to my

garden,” before going back to work.

Which is why I continued to surf the internet and watch “Trading Places” on dvd… just like it was any other day at work.

Keep the faith, White & Case associates, and best of luck.

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