Microsoft to Lay Off 17% of It's Staff in January 2009

The rumor that Microsoft was set to lay off people on January 15th, 2009 is no longer a rumor but a fact. Staff at Microsoft have been informed that the company is readying major layoffs to its worldwide operations and it's not a small cut, either.

Currently Microsoft employs about 90,000 people across the world and from what we're hearing, some 15,000 of those are expected to be giving marching orders come January 15th. That's almost 17 percent of Microsoft's total work force, not exactly a small number. So far, we haven't managed to confirm what departments or regions will be hit the worst, but we're hearing that MSN might be carrying the brunt of the layoffs. We're also hearing rumors about the possibility of somewhat larger staff cuts at Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

It's unlikely that Microsoft will be laying off a lot of people in departments and regions that are doing well, and considering the recent upturn in console sales, we have a feeling that at least most of the people working in the Xbox 360 departments will be pretty safe. The layoffs will take place a week before Microsoft's Q2 earnings report, which takes place on the 22nd of January 2009, and it doesn't seem like the date set for the layoffs is coincidental.

Microsoft probably happy with that.
MS usual style is too buy up areas and then to destroy company/organization slowly and then assimilate the strongest parts of that said company and fire the rest.
With this they can get rid of over-paid staff and put the work on to other people and blame the economy and overwork their staff. They won't complain as they know their jobs may not be safe...

I'm not just picking on MS as many companies do the same (looking at you Starbucks/MacDonalds) though they are a little sneakier. Like purposely over populating an area of a busy city sector they want control of, so they purposely build retails that they know will make little profit and maybe struggle or even make a loss buts its all in the process of putting pressure on other coffee shops to sell up or close down.

Its unfair to moan though as shit floats and over the last century any retailers that want to survive have had to basically become shit stirrers and adapt to this model of nastiness.

The worlds moved forward but i cant deny I'd much prefer some of the old simple ways. I purposely use my little independantally owned coffee shop that is very retro and has a cool undergound section, the prices are more expensive then starbucks but its so much more friendlier and the guy is in it as he loves it. He doesnt employ somebody as a manger its his shop and he runs the place with 2-3 helpers.
Soz gone slightly off topic...

I do think MS will struggle a little as can people afford some of their overly expensive software...

latest i heard was that MS are laying off a department that managed to
make a totally reliable bug free, hacker proof operating system.

Apparently they didnt think it would sell.....

Seriously though this is a bad thing when a company as big as MS has to dump staff. The place i work has layed off about 10-15% and it was pretty lucky to get away with that unlike others in the same industry. Not getting political but the government has let this happen and are the only ones that can get us out of it (with our money of course,as always, pay for what we didnt ask for).

Goes to show that no one is safe in this climate.
Your rite tho mate the goverment and banks have let this happen the bonuses that those top brass peeps r getting is down rite wrong!!

I'm also lucky mate as im with a company that is not really affected that much by the down turn, they r losing about 262 million this year from a 47 billion turn over, no job cuts for us but they r not setting people on either.

I feel sorry for peeps that have lost their jobs and struggling to pay their bills when other peeps live the way they i.e BANKERS!!!!!!