At my job they let go of about ~30% of the work force around one year ago. I knew that this theoretically could happen, but this was the first time seeing it myself.

And I am left thinking, if in the future I see a coworker leave on the day by his own choice. I wouldn’t hold it against him. The company has shown how easily they are willing to let go of a huge number of people. Why should I be mad at any of my coworkers if they decide to leave on the day? The company already set the bar for how this works.

That's why it's always good to have a few months of essential living expenses in a savings account if you possibly can. More people could do this than actually do it.

I've quit without notice once in my career. I already had the next job line up though.

Yeah, it's not a symmetrical dynamic at all.

Leaving without notice is a good way to alienate a lot of contacts that most people will really want to maintain. But even beyond that from what I understand most places have policies in place to prevent employees coming back if they've left without notice.

Meanwhile, if my employer fires me without notice and I've got a mortgage, mouths to feed, and/or medical bills, then I don't really have the leverage to say "I'm sorry, by firing me without notice, you are ineligible from asking to rehire me."

Right. I only meant the legality.

There are A TON of people people who would probably love to walk in and quit tomorrow if they had another job lined up or the means to go without one for a short while.

That’s why they call it FU money.

And the health insurance.