I was an Exceed Expectations every year, hired in the 1980s.
A new VP took over Internal Audit and learned all she could from all of us.
I was her Exec Admin. She created a new job title for me called Staff Account Specialist with a "promotion."
Three months later, I noticed things in her emails (I was privy to) regarding laying people off.
I was able to put two and two together and knew what was coming. I saw a list of 8 of us that were scheduled to meet with HR to be laid off.
Since I worked with these people over 20 years, I contacted them and let them know. It was scheduled for the Monday after Easter 2009.
All of us came in that weekend and emptied our desks. I was first for the meeting. I let the HR Manager and IA VP know I advised everyone and they were a bit upset. I was told my position was no longer needed and I was being laid off with a year's severance.
Moral of the story; it doesn't always pay to be the best you can be because when it comes to the Corporate-world, you are nothing more than a number.