Workers leaving the 3Com factory in Blanchardstown in Co Dublin yesterday evening complained they had been given no news by the company about its future.
Many were angry that they had learned of the impending closure of its manufacturing operation, which employs 650, on morning news bulletins as they went to work.
When they got there, local managers, at least those available to speak to staff, seemed to be equally in the dark about the situation, workers told The Irish Times.
"We weren't too impressed hearing about it on the radio. But when we asked members of management they didn't seem to know anything," said one male employee.
When approached by The Irish Times, he and two colleagues were listening to an RTÉ radio news bulletin in the hope of learning something about the company's plans.
Another staff member, Mr Richard Gregg, an engineer at the plant, said there were rumours among the workforce, but they had been told nothing official.
Workers had no choice, he said, but to "wait and see what happens".
Mr David Murphy, a process technician, said the plant had enough orders to keep workers employed until the end of November, but after that it was "anybody's guess".
Staff had been told "absolutely nothing" about the anticipated job losses. "Middle management didn't know anything this morning; they heard it the same way as us."
"Nobody seems to know where the news actually came from."
Ms Olivia Wynne from Tallaght said her boyfriend had worked at the plant for the past five years. They had a three-year-old son and had recently bought a house.
"He rang me up to say the job was gone, that he had heard it on the radio on the way to work. I couldn't believe it, I am absolutely gutted. We are only getting on our feet and now this has happened."
Finding jobs of similar quality to those at 3Com, which the workers described as a good employer, will be difficult for many of those about to be made redundant.