There are some layoffs that hurt more than others.

For whatever reason — perhaps  because the person being laid off was particularly nice, or particularly skillful, or highly respected in the workplace — the layoff dumbfounds and stuns the office, leaving everyone shocked, saddened, and angry anew at a system that rewards the powerful, ignores hard work and loyalty, and seems to punish those who are least deserving of punishment.

Such is the case in the layoff of Courant IT technician Steve Eichler, who was given his walking papers last Friday with nine other employees. It left the newsroom in shock.

Eichler was a frequent and welcome presence in the third floor’s newsrooms. He had many jobs, but one was to keep the reporters’ and editors’ computers up and running — in the office or in the field.

It is the kind of work that could drive a less patient person bonkers. Steve managed to entertain our stupid questions and desperate pleas for help without flinching or getting cranky. He had a solution to nearly every computer problem; and when he didn’t, went about finding one. He heard a lot of gossip and bitching and moaning while making his rounds, no doubt, but never spoke ill of anyone as far as I know.

Mostly he was (and of course still is) a very decent person and, like most other refugees, completely undeserving of the treatment he got from his former employer. His layoff was perhaps a reminder that the axe could fall at any time on anyone.

The good news is that, unlike journalists, Steve has a marketable skill.

I hope he soon finds a better job and more deserving employer .