Fair point. Perhaps it seemed that way because I'd been working so much that I'd lost any semblance of a social life outside work. That's a mistake I haven't made again.

Also, not everyone in the company should be painted with the same brush. There was a lot going on, none of which I'm actually at liberty to talk about, unfortunately.

You're probably more at liberty to talk about it than you know.

It sounds like he got a severance package that includes non-disparagement, in which case he should say nothing.

If there's no severance, then he can air all the dirty laundry you want. Whether he wants to is up to him.

Even if they are only "work friends", it can still hurt to be suddenly detached from people whose company you enjoy.

Martin, no intention to hurt your feelings but companies hire people to work, not to enjoy. My first job was utopian. I was the second employee and my primary goal was to build the product. After securing a 2M USD funding in 2005, they thought I have completed my tenure and fired me just 3 days prior to the day my shares vested.

Therefore, I learnt it the hard way and try to be an arse at work speaking in short and to-the-point sentences and keeping my mouth shut and slogging for the 40 hours I am contracted for. What matters to me is the hard cash employers bring on the table and no longer give a flying fuck about stocks, RSUs, et all. I don't even bother to check my email or answer phones unless I am on-call and being paid extra for it.

Of course everyone should do things exactly the way that you do. All workplaces, employers, and employees should be identical.

What works for you is great. I am happy for you.

Indeed. In fact, I figure that those people contributed to the fact he was fired,- directly or otherwise. Never underestimate the prospect of someone else undercutting your reputation to make themselves look better.