Blogs Jan 7, 2009 at 1:56 pm

Rumors of Microsoft Layoffs

Dominic Holden
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Comments

1
Then I guess it doesn't really matter that I didn't get that contract job I interviewed for in October, does it mom?
on January 7, 2009 at 2:20 PM Report this
2
Microsoft doesn't lay off people, they fire them. You see, they do twice annual reviews and put people into buckets: underperformed, achieved, exceeded. Those that have had one or more underperforms in their career, particularly if they haven't promoted in the last 2 years, will probably be fired for low performance. Plus they'll shitcan as many contractors as they can get away with. They also talk a lot about "good attrition", which is a nice way of saying age discrimination. Microsoft loves college hires because they get paid less, work more, and take advantage of fewer benefits.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:30 PM Report this
3
uh oh for me
on January 7, 2009 at 2:35 PM Report this
4
@2 wins.

Open reqs that are truly open are a rare thing at msft. Reqs are usually known to be open only to a college hire or H1 hire, even if they interview openly.

And of course all the dash trash that do all the actual work will be gone to be replaced with outsourcing and automation.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM Report this
5
@2, I don't know, there have been a few RIFs already on campus. But I have noticed a bunch of existing FTEs being swapped between departments in lieu of hiring new temps, and several FTEs moving from India to fill positions here.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:38 PM Report this
6
Well, when you build a shitty product, (Vista anyone? Office 2007?) and the economy goes to the tank; then yeah I think there should be some lay offs. Maybe it will be a good chance for Microsoft to cut the fat, and they have TONS of it.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM Report this
7
@5 RIFs(reduction in forces) aren't layoffs, because a RIF means you have a chance to find another job within the company for a set number of weeks after which you are fired. A layoff is involuntary unemployment without that opportunity. That's how Microsoft defines it, so therefore they aren't laying off anyone. See how nicely that works for them?
on January 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM Report this
8
I heard from some insiders that it's not as bad as you think.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:44 PM Report this
9
@8 It depends which group they're in. People in Office and Server and Tools are probably fine, but if you're in MSN or sales or marketing, you should probably be updating your resume this week.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:47 PM Report this
10
If you want to know more of the sordid inner workings of Microsoft, go here http://minimsft.blogspot.com
on January 7, 2009 at 2:55 PM Report this
11
@7 WTF, seriously?! But 99% of the RIF-ers can't get another job within the organization, since there's the whole hiring freeze thing going on. ARG.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:56 PM Report this
12
Well I have to say that "knows MS well", really does know MS well.

Sometimes there are shitty employees who actually deserve to be fired. Unfortunately in the last ten years or so at Microsoft those employees often haven't been fired. Instead they've been promoted.

You always know someone is on their way out when suddenly they begin working on "special projects."
on January 7, 2009 at 2:59 PM Report this
13
Another thing to understand about Microsoft's mentality toward firing people is that whenever you see an executive leaving to "spend time with family" or "pursue other opportunities" that's code for being offered a choice between getting fired or leaving gracefully.
on January 7, 2009 at 2:59 PM Report this
14
@11 Ah, but that is the point is it not?
on January 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM Report this
15
People who know MS, do the RIF-ed people get unemployment or severance, or are they just fired? I won't be RIF-ed, I'm just curious...
on January 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM Report this
16
@15 - in general (not MS specific), you can only expect unemployment if you: 1. are employed full-time, 2. have been so for at least 6 mo., and 3. are not fired with cause.
on January 7, 2009 at 3:15 PM Report this
17
Also, as Lily says @11 with a hiring freeze going on there really aren't other jobs to be found, though you can bet that Microsoft does work hard to keep the employees they want to keep, even if that person is on a canceled project team.
on January 7, 2009 at 3:16 PM Report this
18
No, they don't typically get unemployment or severance. At least, I didn't several years ago.
on January 7, 2009 at 3:17 PM Report this
19
@15 The time you spend hunting for a new internal job is your severance.
on January 7, 2009 at 3:20 PM Report this
20
I just hope that only ONE person is laid off from that place - my ex-husband.
I sure hope noone else loses their jobs.
on January 7, 2009 at 5:04 PM Report this
21
there are tons of high paying jobs posted on certain job sites -

www.linkedin.com
www.indeed.com
www.realmatch.com

Any or all of these sites have great jobs for those looking.
on January 7, 2009 at 7:16 PM Report this
22
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I watched as all the other contractors in my department were let go before the holidays. I'm one of 7 people they chose to keep on. I'm hoping my contract will extend through March but I'm lucky because I won't be screwed if it doesn't. I just got rid of my apartment and moved in with family while I go back to school. I think I'll be able to ride things out on unemployment and student loans until things shape up out there but I feel very sad for my co-workers and friends, many of whom will be in a much tougher place than I am.
on January 7, 2009 at 10:07 PM Report this
23
as of now its all speculations. There is no truth behind all of this. Cost cutting, hiring freeze, laying of under achievers all this is true...but then again can you really blame MS for taking this stance?
on January 8, 2009 at 1:07 PM Report this
24
Layoffs are a comin. Have no doubt about this, it's already happened, but M$ doesn't call it a layoff.
on January 9, 2009 at 8:35 PM Report this
25
It is the utter familiarity of all this from my days with the downsizing telecoms industries. There is nothing here that says Microsoft has much of a future, same as Alcatel, Nortel, though not a vibrant Cisco who successfully moved on from it's 'Office equivalent' of network routers.
on January 10, 2009 at 2:41 AM Report this
26
already the people quitting the jobs they have.now they no need to fear because the economy recovering slowly
kraigs24 on May 27, 2010 at 11:27 AM Report this

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