The buzz around the office is that the company isn't doing as well as expected this quarter and they may be looking to lay off a percentage of employees to make up for the loss of revenue.  This is making people nervous and on edge.  I try not to gossip with my fellow employees because it looks bad in the eyes of management.  Also, I don't care to waste my time with negative chatting anyway. 

This doesn't mean that I'm not curious about the office gossip.  I catch most of the "news" by eavesdropping on my co-workers while I'm pretending to listen to my ipod.  I shake my head to imaginary beats and tap my fingers to imaginary rhythms.  Sometimes I’ll close my eyes and hum a few notes of a song, if I think someone has caught on to my little game. 

Pretending to listen to my ipod also acts as a barrier from co-workers who ask me inane questions throughout the day.  When I have my ipod on, I don't even know anyone's standing in front of me because I'm so wrapped up in my playlist and the work task at hand.  Eventually, that person will move on to the next cube and ask the same question.  Annoying obstacle, averted.

But to get back to these layoffs:  I'm worried and I don't want to be one of the "chosen few."  I like where I work, and I like some of the people that I work with, and I don't want to have to go job hunting because I heard that jobs are scarce lately.  The only decent thing that could come from being laid off is collecting a little unempers, but that non gig doesn't last forever.  I guess it's best not to think about it too hard.  After all, it's just gossip.