Thanks to all of the tipsters who are helping us put together numbers on the Baker Botts layoffs. Even though the firm doesn’t want you to know how many people it is letting go, our sources have been relentless in helping us expose the information.
Yesterday we reported that Baker Botts laid off at least twelve associates in Houston. Today we can report that at least seven other associates were laid off in Baker’s Washington office. One tipster has a colorful description of the action in D.C.:
Baker Botts DC canned 7 associates. They handled it so poorly that one found out from a secretary. … They laid off associates who had a lot of hours and were strong performers, so it was even more ridiculous. None of us feel safe now. Apparently, this firm has no loyalties to anyone but the dollar.
According to NALP, there are 65 associates in Baker Botts’s D.C. office. So the cuts represent around 10% of the associates in that office.
After the jump, we learn that the timing of these layoffs couldn’t have been worse for one Baker Botts associate.
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One tipster told us some particularly sad news:
One [associate] was called on her honeymoon in Cambodia.
Ouch. Obviously, being away on a honeymoon shouldn’t protect you from being let go. But wasn’t there a better way for Baker Botts to time this decision? Like before she left for her honeymoon? Or after she got back to work? It just seems unnecessarily harsh to call a person to say: “Congrats on finding a husband, now you should see about finding a job.”
We asked the firm to confirm the number of layoffs — we didn’t hold our breath on that one. We also asked them if they could explain why the honeymooning associate had to be let go right now. But the firm did not respond to our inquiry.
So, cross getting married and hiding in a hole on Angkor Wat off the list of ways to avoid getting fired.
Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: The Baker Botts Dozen
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