i have seen even funnier (or say worst) situation where they called a VPs and asked him to select the people to layoff by the end of the week, the VP fought back trying to save jobs of the team members but somehow management forced him to pick maximum number of members whom they then laid off on friday --- come monday they gave pink-slip to the same VP... the person was stunned !!!

they didn't laid-off VP for fighting back but it was pre-planned & scripted by HR.