Albert leaned forward and placed his elbows on the wooden table. With a conspiratorial finger, he beckoned Thomas closer and lowered his voice. “Our company is investing more in automation. So grunts like me and Mark will be the first to get-” He drew a finger across his throat. “Laid off.”
Thomas's eyes widened. The grip on his mug tightened. Following his friend’s hushed tones, he whispered, “Is that a rumor or something? I mean, they can’t do that… can they?”
“Oh they can,” Albert tossed back his mug and wiped the residual froth from his lips. “It’s only a matter of time really.”