@VGKG0X1-4Ttvb. Absolutely. If that person was BE, then that person may have only been teetering the line as a potential layoff.
If your friend is already counted in the numbers, being on disability will increase his or her likelihood to be laid off.
The company will allow the employee to continue with short term and immediately upon returning, handle the layoff.
Short term costs the company significantly, especially if the employee repeatedly uses it every rolling 12 months. They are paying a salary and benefits for a job that person is not performing and placing a burden on other employees to carry the extra work.