Redundant...

Four days after returning from my holiday in Macau, my department head informed me I was being made redundant and my services as a news editor were no longer required. Actually that's not quite correct, the services I do for the company are required, it's just that the work load is being redistributed among the remaining newsroom and production staff. 

Here's the email that went out to staff, just sixty seconds (a little insensitive, don't you think?) after I was told ...

From: ***** ******
Sent: Thursday, 14 May 2009 15:36
To: TAS All Staff - Launceston
Subject: Sad Day
 
Hi everyone,
 
It is my sad duty to inform you that Andrew ‘Smirks’ Shepherd’s role as news ENG editor has been made redundant effective the 30^th of June 2009.
 
It is especially sad given his exemplary record and commitment to the station, in particular the news department but also that this has had to occur in the year he achieved 25 years of service.  
 
This redundancy is not related to the economic situation but rather the company’s requirement that our new non liner editing equipment has a pay back period and associated with the new efficiency of operation gained once implemented.
 
Should you have any questions or concerns please come and see me or discuss with your department head.
 
Regards
 
***** ******

The mysterious third paragraph has everyone dumb struck - well according everyone I've spoken to, particularly the words 'pay back period'. To me it sounds like someone made a monumental cock up when ordering the equipment.

Anyway, I'll curb anymore comment on this as I'm hoping to keep my foot in the door for future work.