Since the Wall Street Journal is subscription only, here is Wired’s take:
In a rare move, the higher ups at Microsoft are contemplating widespread job cuts as a reaction to the ongoing economic upheaval, reports the Wall Street Journal.
“Microsoft Corp. is seriously exploring significant work force reductions,” says the financial paper of note in a report published this morning. The Journal believes the firm’s official plans could be revealed “as early as next week.”
The Journal fails to specify just how many people could be let go or which divisions would see the hits. Instead, the focus of the piece seems to be on illustrating the immensity and widespread damage caused by the current U.S. financial situation.
The Journal almost seems stunned that Microsoft — a firm the report labels “one of the steadiest ships in the technology industry” — would be forced to lay people off.
The Seattle Times and Seattle-PI confirm.
Best of luck to you all.
It isn’t doing bad across the board – a friend of mine just got HIRED by Microsoft.
So wait, did they say they “will” fire people, or are “contemplating” it? Your headline doesn’t seem to match the report. Get it straight for fuck’s sake and stop throwing gasoline on the fire.
@3, read the links for additional information – the post’s author did, and as a result the headline he chose seems very appropriate.
Well, I know in my group we’ve gotten rid of 31 Indian contractors, and will get rid of another 50 by March. Haven’t heard anything about FTEs though.
Damn – headline softened. Wussy!
I know there are definitely cutbacks going on as far as contractors go… I’m one of 7 contractors left out of an original 35 or so. But someone in my department just sent the full article out and Wired’s take on it was the opposite of how I felt after reading it. To me it seemed like the picture looks far less bleak than the wild rumors flying around on Slog and elsewhere would have us believe. I can tell you that while there is concern about the economy here, there certainly isn’t any kind of panic or feeling of unease around the office, at least in my department.
Too bad the Senate and House are likely to approve large numbers of H1-B visas.
Gee, I wonder which firm employs a lot of those visa holders …
I wouldn’t read too much into it. Microsoft has probably been DYING for an excuse to trim the fat – the current state of the economy is the perfect place to lay the blame. I’m sure Steve Ballmer will hold a solemn, understated press conference with a strategically-timed crocodile tears (take notes, Hearst President Steve Swartz – maybe next time you won’t look like such an asshole!).
In other words: lay off the bottom-feeders –> save millions a month in payroll –> watch the stock price go up a dollar –> everybody happy!
Everybody happy, except of course for anyone who gets laid off in Seattle/Redmond. Potential hirers/recruiters will know that you were far from a rock star since you didn’t have the clout to avoid the cuts, and will avoid you like the plague.
2009 is going to be gangbusters!
@8, you’re right, that is how it will begin.
I heard that microsoft workers were going to find out today
Except for not renewing the contracts of “temporary” workers (vendors and contractors), word of layoffs at Microsoft has only been unsubstantiated rumors. That said, Microsoft generally doesn’t do layoffs. Instead, they’ll do two things. 1) Put pressure on management to fire more low performers. 2) Eliminate entire teams, giving their members time to find new jobs in the company. Unfortunately, most other groups are under a hiring freeze right now (somewhat excluded for new college hires), so after failing to find a new position inside the company, they’ll just be let go. Poof, no announced layoffs but it’s basically the same effect.
Jonathan loves to throw gas on the fire, first with WAMU and the banks and now with Microsoft and employment.
Hard facts are one thing, but this rumor mongering serves no purpose other than to scare people into the sort of behavior that just prolongs and deepens the extent of the recession.
The Microsoft cutbacks are real, they just replaced our free copies of The Stranger on campus with paper bags full of dog shit.
Oh wait, that actually may have been an improvement.