4 ms·

5% really isn't that many. Sounds like a good excuse to cut the chafe.

zzzmarcus 18y ago
When 5% means 5,000 people without jobs, it's a lot. I don't work for MS, but I live in Seattle. I guarantee you every tech company in the area is affected in some way by this. Within MS, the uncertainty will be detrimental to the entire culture there until all they layoffs are done and probably for quite awhile after that. Outside MS seeing the largest company in town, one that rarely lays people off, axe so many jobs will have everyone nervous. No matter what your feelings about MS are, their influence in Seattle (not to mention elsewhere) is huge and a layoff of this size means a lot.
- fallentimes 18y ago
  I wasn't making a value judgment or arguing against any of the other points you mentioned. Headlines often do this. When it's a big actual number and a small percent they post the actual number. When it's a big percent, but a small actual number, they post the percent. It's one thing if they're cutting tens of thousands of jobs and 20% of their work force. But most big corporations are so inefficient, this feels like a natural layoff/reduce the chafe move. We'll find out soon enough.
- dmv 18y ago
  Not all of the tech impact will be negative. There was a serious impending office space glut in Seattle and Bellevue coming; Microsoft has been the tenant every developer wanted. With the all-but-done deals collapsing, and anticipations of space contraction: * South Lake Union: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395046_msftofficespace07.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395046_msftofficespac... * Eastside: http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/19/daily30.html http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/19/da... ...the glut will be even more pronounced. Good for growing companies that might want to increase their Class A space; much stronger negotiation leverage.
gamble 18y ago
That assumes Microsoft knows how to identify the chaff. Given their baroque and top-heavy management, I'd say it isn't their strong point.

When 5% means 5,000 people without jobs, it's a lot. I don't work for MS, but I live in Seattle. I guarantee you every tech company in the area is affected in some way by this. Within MS, the uncertainty will be detrimental to the entire culture there until all they layoffs are done and probably for quite awhile after that. Outside MS seeing the largest company in town, one that rarely lays people off, axe so many jobs will have everyone nervous. No matter what your feelings about MS are, their influence in Seattle (not to mention elsewhere) is huge and a layoff of this size means a lot.

fallentimes 18y ago
I wasn't making a value judgment or arguing against any of the other points you mentioned. Headlines often do this. When it's a big actual number and a small percent they post the actual number. When it's a big percent, but a small actual number, they post the percent. It's one thing if they're cutting tens of thousands of jobs and 20% of their work force. But most big corporations are so inefficient, this feels like a natural layoff/reduce the chafe move. We'll find out soon enough.
dmv 18y ago
Not all of the tech impact will be negative. There was a serious impending office space glut in Seattle and Bellevue coming; Microsoft has been the tenant every developer wanted. With the all-but-done deals collapsing, and anticipations of space contraction: * South Lake Union: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395046_msftofficespace07.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395046_msftofficespac... * Eastside: http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/19/daily30.html http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/19/da... ...the glut will be even more pronounced. Good for growing companies that might want to increase their Class A space; much stronger negotiation leverage.

gamble 18y ago

That assumes Microsoft knows how to identify the chaff. Given their baroque and top-heavy management, I'd say it isn't their strong point.