Microsoft to cut 12,500 employees over next year

[alfred russel]

What we would do for a RIF was once the personnel were identified, HR and Corporate Security would get together with the staff supervisors to coordinate the death march batting order, and the supervisors would bring them into the death room, one at a time;  they'd get the spiel, sign the paperwork and then be taken back to his or her desk to collect their meager belongings and then escorted right out the door;  meanwhile, we'd simultaneously be issuing a BOLO--complete with ID photo and vehicle description--to all employee entrances and security stations, stating that the employee was permanently barred from the property.  Do not come back to go to lunch with your former coworkers, as you will be trespassing.  Left a photo of your kid?  We'll mail it.  Shit left on your computer?  The hard drive will be wiped by the time you get home, so don't worry about it.
We'd repeat this with every person, one at a time, all day long;  and then, at the end of the day, we'd do the supervisors.

Of course, because the corporate fiscal year was the same as the calendar year, it all happens during the holidays, usually from the Monday after Thanksgiving up until December 15th.  Gotta get them off the ledger by December 31st.

    First they came for Accounts Payable, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not Accounts Payable.

    Then they came for IT Support, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not IT Support.

    Then they came for Customer Support Services, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not Customer Support Services.

    Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[DontSayBanana]

I can see both sides of this argument.  They acquired 25,000 employees with Nokia, they're cutting half because they already have engineers and workers to work on Windows phones.  Apparently, most of the rest of the cuts are them trying to cut out a bad case of manager reporting to manager reporting to manager reporting to manager reporting to actual man in charge.

On the other hand, 18,000 cuts can put some serious ripples in the economy, especially considering their previous record was less than a third of that, and that was right at the peak of the recession.  Part of me really wants to see some serious consequences for Microsoft for fucking things over on this kind of a scale.

[CountDeMoney]

Doubtful.  Most of these employees are STEM-y types, and will find new work within the month.

[DontSayBanana]

Doubtful.  Most of these employees are STEM-y types, and will find new work within the month.

I wish I could be that confident about the prospects of STEM-y types.  It would seriously lessen my stress about the fact that I'm taking myself out of the full-time workforce again to finish my STEM degree.

[Ideologue]

STEM is king.  Why do they even sell liberal arts degrees?  They don't sell cars without engines.  Not for $30,000 anyway.

[CountDeMoney]

Doubtful.  Most of these employees are STEM-y types, and will find new work within the month.

I wish I could be that confident about the prospects of STEM-y types.  It would seriously lessen my stress about the fact that I'm taking myself out of the full-time workforce again to finish my STEM degree.

You'll be fine.  Get your certs, and you're in like a veteran in the federal government.

[crazy canuck]

On the other hand, 18,000 cuts can put some serious ripples in the economy, especially considering their previous record was less than a third of that, and that was right at the peak of the recession.  Part of me really wants to see some serious consequences for Microsoft for fucking things over on this kind of a scale.

Those cuts are worldwide 

[alfred russel]

Doubtful.  Most of these employees are STEM-y types, and will find new work within the month.

I wish I could be that confident about the prospects of STEM-y types.  It would seriously lessen my stress about the fact that I'm taking myself out of the full-time workforce again to finish my STEM degree.

"STEM" is a giant category. Some parts aren't that employable, some are. You should talk to recruiters and people in the profession about the outlook before you go back to school.

[LaCroix]

http://www.kfyrtv.com/story/26053296/fargo-microsoft-branch-doesnt-expect-lay-offs

[MadImmortalMan]

Wifey got caught in the ones in 2008 or 9. Dodged it this time. I have lots of shares though. That year we missed would take more shares to make up for though,