My brother has also had the same thing happen. We both worked in the same company and at different locations, and the company had been performing successive rounds of layoffs. On the 5th round he and I were let go about 5 mins apart, but in less than a month they had to rehire him as a contractor and higher pay than they were paying him before. Mostly I think because his prior boss would claim stuff my brother did as his own accomplishments and I don't think my brother cared. He was able to contract til he got a better job.