The Axe May Fall at Microsoft
Microsoft Campus
According to a Wall Street Journal article, “Microsoft Corp. is considering “significant” layoffs across various divisions that could be announced as early as next week, The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday.
The newspaper, in its online edition, said the Redmond, Washington, software giant was “seriously exploring significant work force reductions.”
Citing “people familiar with its plans,” the Journal said Microsoft was “considering layoffs across its various divisions,” what it called “a rare occurrence for the world’s largest software company.”
“However, plans for the cutbacks are still in flux and Microsoft could end up finding alternative methods of reining in costs,” the Journal quoted one unidentified source as saying.
The Journal said the number of potential job cuts was “likely to be far less than the 15,000 positions that have been rumored in recent weeks.”
Years ago I temped for Microsoft and the halls were packed with temps. I didn’t think they actually hired anyone, save for extremely high level executives and computer engineers. They (and companies like them) hire temps for lower level work so they dont’ have to pay out benefits, thus increasing their bottom line. I never went back. This news of layoffs and decreased profits (hello…Vista, anyone?) surprises me somewhat.
Just goes to show, no company is ‘too big’ to falter, or even fail.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.