Not quite. I think that was why HE was laid off. I was laid off only because he was. It protected the company from a religious discrimination law suit to do us both. Also he had 8 years seniority, and it would look "odd" to keep the much less senior person. I think they may have been some concern that if I didn't get axed, and he did, there would be some workplace violence. (He trained in Thai kickboxing in Thailand).
Of course, I'll never REALLY know ;^)