Well known financial fact: The axe drops more often and without remorse during Q4. Oct, Nov, Dec. It's when the numz come in for the first nine months and owners, managers and yes, accountants re-position the ship for the next fiscal year. It has little to do with rateings, popularity of the air staff or even how well a salesperson is doing. Top gross is not what really drives it. Accountants step in and the only way they think and act, as we all know is debit/credit, profit/no profit, paid/unpaid, plus/minus.
They dont operate under the "wiggle-room concept. This is why, in almost every situation where a company goes bust or into forced ownership transfer the very last person to go out the door and lock up is..you guessed it.