When even top performers and diligent employees get laid off in a downturn, is it worth going above and beyond for your company?

• Recent mass layoffs at big tech companies show that even capable hard workers can lose their jobs.

• This raises questions about whether loyal employees are wasting their effort. 
• Aurelie Cnop, of ESCP Business School, says workers need to pursue a calling and set boundaries.

The standard career advice in an economic downturn is to make yourself indispensable at work.

The implicit assumption is that your employer would never dare fire its most diligent go-to person.