5 ms·

Never good news to hear about layoffs, but for those that are affected I can say there is life beyond Microsoft. (it might even be better!)

by tdicola 12y ago

zer0nes 12y ago
Why can't it be good news? And good news to whom? To me, who cares about this company, this is good news because I think that MS needs to get much more nimble. I'm saying this as someone who can receive very bad news tomorrow.
- TallGuyShort 12y ago
  To quote, perhaps inaccurately, Louis CK: "Divorce is always good news. It would be terrible if there was a couple who as happy and in love, and they had this perfect life, and then they got divorced? Oh that would be horrible! But that has happened exactly zero times."
  - boyter 12y ago
    As someone who's parents are going through this I cannot disagree more. There are circumstances where it does happen.
    - 72deluxe 12y ago
      That's very sad. Why are they getting divorced if they are happy?
      - boyter 12y ago
        I don't want to get too deeply into it but PTSD is one hell of a disease and destroys families.
        72deluxe 12y ago
        Sorry to hear it.
        TallGuyShort 12y ago
        Also sorry to hear it - I apologize if my quote was insensitive. My point was just that if layoffs are deemed necessary, one way or another it's best if the employee and company part ways sooner rather than later.
        boyter 12y ago
        No problem at all. No need to apologize.
- tdicola 12y ago
  It's certainly not good news for someone who might lose their job. It's also not good because it can scare off good people too--if you're watching the company you work for go through a massive round of layoffs and make the cut, won't you start wondering if maybe it's time to look elsewhere before things get worse?
  - russgray 12y ago
    When a company I used to work for announced its first ever round of layoffs, I volunteered to get cut. Took the payoff and got the hell out.
- rlu 12y ago
  You hear layoffs and you think about the company but ignore the people in the company? OK.
cesarbs 12y ago
Microsoft employee here. My main concern is the fact that I'm the US on an H-1B visa. I really, really, really don't want to go back to my country, but that will be the case if I'm laid off and unable to find another H-1B sponsor in a very short time. :(
- sg47 12y ago
  You'll typically get severance for one or two months. As long as you are on the payroll, you can apply for a H1-B transfer. I went through this situation 7 years back. For a company of Microsoft's size, a severance of one or two months shouldn't be a problem.
  - woi13 12y ago
    Wrong. You have to be employed - meaning Active Employment - to be on H1b visa. Severence package is no excuse to stay in country. IANAL , but please don't say anything you don't know about law. If you overstayed yourself you broke the law.
- curiouslurker 12y ago
  I feel for you as a former H1-B holder. If you are past a certain stage you can work for yourself legally. Set up an LLC and get software contracting gigs. If you are in Seattle talk to Kevin Lederman, a leading immigration lawyer and he can advise you accordingly.
  - cesarbs 12y ago
    Unfortunately, I don't even have PERM yet :\
- microarchitect 12y ago
  This is the #1 reason why I won't stay in the US after my phd. I have no interest in being a random CEO whim away from either having to uproot my life and move back home or frantically try to land a new job all in the short period of 15 days. For those curious the #2 reason is that H1Bs make it hard to do even simple extracurricular activities like writing books or do consulting on the side related to an open source project you contribute to let alone start a company. The H1B is fundamentally broken and I'm amazed that so many people put up with it. Credit to the US for being such a desirable destination, I guess.

Never good news to hear about layoffs, but for those that are affected I can say there is life beyond Microsoft. (it might even be better!)

by tdicola 12y ago

Never good news to hear about layoffs, but for those that are affected I can say there is life beyond Microsoft. (it might even be better!)

zer0nes 12y ago

Why can't it be good news? And good news to whom? To me, who cares about this company, this is good news because I think that MS needs to get much more nimble. I'm saying this as someone who can receive very bad news tomorrow.

TallGuyShort 12y ago
To quote, perhaps inaccurately, Louis CK: "Divorce is always good news. It would be terrible if there was a couple who as happy and in love, and they had this perfect life, and then they got divorced? Oh that would be horrible! But that has happened exactly zero times."
- boyter 12y ago
  As someone who's parents are going through this I cannot disagree more. There are circumstances where it does happen.
  - 72deluxe 12y ago
    That's very sad. Why are they getting divorced if they are happy?
    - boyter 12y ago
      I don't want to get too deeply into it but PTSD is one hell of a disease and destroys families.
      - 72deluxe 12y ago
        Sorry to hear it.
      - TallGuyShort 12y ago
        Also sorry to hear it - I apologize if my quote was insensitive. My point was just that if layoffs are deemed necessary, one way or another it's best if the employee and company part ways sooner rather than later.
        boyter 12y ago
        No problem at all. No need to apologize.
tdicola 12y ago
It's certainly not good news for someone who might lose their job. It's also not good because it can scare off good people too--if you're watching the company you work for go through a massive round of layoffs and make the cut, won't you start wondering if maybe it's time to look elsewhere before things get worse?
- russgray 12y ago
  When a company I used to work for announced its first ever round of layoffs, I volunteered to get cut. Took the payoff and got the hell out.
rlu 12y ago
You hear layoffs and you think about the company but ignore the people in the company? OK.

cesarbs 12y ago

Microsoft employee here. My main concern is the fact that I'm the US on an H-1B visa. I really, really, really don't want to go back to my country, but that will be the case if I'm laid off and unable to find another H-1B sponsor in a very short time. :(

sg47 12y ago
You'll typically get severance for one or two months. As long as you are on the payroll, you can apply for a H1-B transfer. I went through this situation 7 years back. For a company of Microsoft's size, a severance of one or two months shouldn't be a problem.
- woi13 12y ago
  Wrong. You have to be employed - meaning Active Employment - to be on H1b visa. Severence package is no excuse to stay in country. IANAL , but please don't say anything you don't know about law. If you overstayed yourself you broke the law.
curiouslurker 12y ago
I feel for you as a former H1-B holder. If you are past a certain stage you can work for yourself legally. Set up an LLC and get software contracting gigs. If you are in Seattle talk to Kevin Lederman, a leading immigration lawyer and he can advise you accordingly.
- cesarbs 12y ago
  Unfortunately, I don't even have PERM yet :\
microarchitect 12y ago
This is the #1 reason why I won't stay in the US after my phd. I have no interest in being a random CEO whim away from either having to uproot my life and move back home or frantically try to land a new job all in the short period of 15 days. For those curious the #2 reason is that H1Bs make it hard to do even simple extracurricular activities like writing books or do consulting on the side related to an open source project you contribute to let alone start a company. The H1B is fundamentally broken and I'm amazed that so many people put up with it. Credit to the US for being such a desirable destination, I guess.