Thread regarding Citrix Systems Inc. layoffs

The "rumors" about the severance budget exist only one place: here. In other words, nonsense.

If you get put on a performance plan its as good as being fired without severance, rumors going around the severance budget has run out?

Performance plans are often used to discredit older employees that are close to retirement. Some employers in the U.S. and Europe are fearful of terminating workers that will claim age discrimination. So, they first build the case that the employee was a poor performer, to help justify their decision.

Never underestimate an employer's fear of expensive litigation due to unlawful terminations.

This sounds so odd.
Companies and managers have generally moved away from performance plans. They are stressful on both manager and employee and pose a lot of legal risk. If a manager is asking a peer to provide written points, then that manager is a lzy idit.
Instead of performance plans, companies do regular reductions in force. Just put someone on a list, eliminate the position, know that you can't backfill for 3-6 months and move on. It's easier on the employee and the manager and poses a lot less risk to the company.

Give the coworker a heads up that the manager is betraying them.

It is happening. Look, anything you can do to cut cost is top of mind. This is just another tool for them to use.

This sounds pretty bogus to me - and completely unnecessary. Management doesn't need any real excuse to put anyone on plan, much less input from a coworker. If this is remotely real, its probably a directive from a manager to document things when one coworker has a complaint about someone else. A personnel issue, more or less.

Ha ha ha ha ha
You get what you deserve

I'm having a hard digesting this post, this cannot be happening. At least not like this?