As a recently laid off employee of a company that's going down the tubes, I totally agree with what you've said. You can't go burning bridges when you leave a job. If you get laid off, you might want to kill someone, but the people you've met at the job may one day help you get another job. I've gotten my last two jobs through contacts I made at a previous employer. It's a good idea to keep those contacts. You might be the one helping someone else out someday, but don't overlook the fact that you'll get help when you least expect it.