These days in our economy NO ONE is secure in their current job. Programmers I know that thought they were safe and secure in their positions have been laid off out of the blue and replaced with foreign nationals brought in to work cheaper or offshore developers. Some were receiving regular bonuses for exemplary development and support. There is no guarantee. It is even worse when the existing developers are expected to train the new developers and then they are laid off so the new developers can have their positions. It happens all too often...