Fears about the impact on jobs at US firm Concentrix were heightened earlier this month after HMRC decided not to renew its contract with the company, which employs 1,800 staff at its Belfast site.
This was a massive contract, worth £75 million, and was designed to save the British government more than £1 billion in incorrect or fraudulent tax credit payments.
However, concerns had been raised about cases where tax credits had been stopped in error, leading to criticism of Concentrix by figures such as Labour MP Frank Field.
The firm defended its record, pointing out it had saved the taxpayer nearly £300 million but this was not enough to prevent HMRC moving with unusual speed to bring the shutters down on this contract which will now finish in May 2017.
Just weeks later and we are told that 150 temporary staff are set to lose their jobs at the Belfast base with immediate effect.
East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson is in no doubt where the blame lies, saying the job losses were the `human cost' of the HMRC decision.
Clearly, this is bleak news for workers who were on temporary contracts but who may have hoped for long term employment at Concentrix.
They will now be looking for fresh opportunities and wondering where they can find new jobs in the run up to Christmas.
It is also not clear what the implications will be for the firm's remaining Belfast staff following the HMRC decision.
Arguments may go back and forth between the government and Concentrix but it is the hundreds of employees who will be feeling anxious about the future.
Of course, people must get the tax credit payments they are entitled to receive and any queries dealt with appropriately.
But there are also wider issues over this contract and HMRC's handling of this matter.
