that's awful... and how it sadly goes sometimes...
a few years back they fired all the accounting students that didn't pass their pre-final exams
that was 14 of the 15 in the bullpen, the only one who passed was a good friend and they told him they despised him and he had 60 days to find another job
3 of the 14 were on vacation (and transferring to another firm office) when the news came, and didn't find out until day one at the new job...
one friend had a good meeting on a Friday with his boss that ended at 4"30pm and he went home and a voice mail at 4:32 from the boss said he was fired...
one managing partner went around with an employee list and clipboard to see who was still at their desk/cubicle at 5:30pm most Friday afternoons, what a dick...