Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft, the iconic computer technology company, continues its reorganization plan with another 2.1% workforce layoff.
The reduction in force affects 4,800 employees, with most layoffs occurring in Microsoft’s Xbox and commercial sales organizations.
According to an internal memo, "I also want to be direct that the roles eliminated today are not being replaced by AI. At the same time, AI is changing how work gets done. I also want to be direct that the roles eliminated today are not being replaced by AI. At the same time, AI is changing how work gets done. Decisions like these are never easy, and you have my commitment that we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the need for job eliminations. Whenever possible, our priority is to place people into new roles aligned to the company’s highest priorities and greatest areas of opportunity."
“More than 30 percent of eligible employees chose to participate in our recent voluntary retirement program, and we will continue exploring similar approaches in the future. While this doesn’t change the difficulty of today’s news, we will continue to do everything we can to create opportunities for our people, reduce the need for job eliminations where possible, and responsibly support those affected with care and respect.”
Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?