For what it's worth... I am employed by an o&g company that laid off around one hundred people last year. I was 'lucky' enough to have been offered a 'transition' to another state to continue working for said company. So this post may be a little bias, but hopefully it hits home for some of you...
You should really consider not berating the company that you once called 'the best company you've ever worked for.'
You should really consider counting your blessings that you ever worked for that company to begin with.
We all know NO ONE in Oklahoma pays what O&G companies pay. You had the opportunity to be part of that. You should be thanking your company for that opportunity. And if you are/were actually a quality employee, you will probably have the opportunity to be part of that AGAIN some day. You just have to be PATIENT. Let this downturn come back around. Companies will need to replace the workforce they laid off. Just be ready for that.
To all of you who say 'The managers, officers, etc., should fall on their sword instead of laying off the 'worker bees.'' Sure, if you want the company to go completely bankrupt and in turn, you lose your entire 401k or stock benefits that you had invested in your company all these years.
It's selfish to think 'SOMEONE ELSE' should have taken the fall instead of you. Is it fair? No. Is it business? Yes. It's the business you signed up for when you accepted that 100% pay increase to join the industry.
I wish all of you the best, and for those of you who 'get lucky' and make it through this, let this be a lesson on humility, and count your blessings. And take a close look at your financial planning. Sadly, you could be next. Sadly, I could be next. But I wouldn't trade this industry for any other that I've worked in, and if the day comes where I'm locked out of my computer and called into a conference room, I'm going to hold my head high and know that the skills and relationships I built at my job will stick with me for years to come.