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Subject: Important Company-wide Announcement Dear Employees, For our business to continue running, we must reduce the number of staff. This is an unfortunate

Subject: Important Company-wide Announcement Dear Employees, For our business to continue running, we must reduce the number of staff. This is an unfortunate but also inevitable reality. [insert details of layoff here] [insert honest platitudes] Senior management wishes all of you the best of luck, and has every confidence that you will be even more successful at your next job.

ggreer 12y ago
The only bit I would disagree with is, "For our business to continue running..." Last year, Microsoft made over $20 billion profit on almost $80 billion in revenue. The truth is that Microsoft has accumulated many useless employees over the years, and they could be even more profitable by laying off those people.
- samuel 12y ago
  "In order to maximize shareholder value in the long term..." I would hate to be fired, no matter the phrasing, but kudos to a CEO brave enough to say things just how they are.
- brational 12y ago
  "For our business to remain competitive... "
  - danielweber 12y ago
    "For your convenience, 15% of positions will be removed."
- vixin 12y ago
  Not bad for a corpse, seven years later: http://paulgraham.com/microsoft.html http://paulgraham.com/microsoft.html
- NoMoreNicksLeft 12y ago
  Yes, but at that point it's not a "running business" but a charity. Pruning all the carefully hidden useless employees is a massive effort, getting rid of a department that is longer relevant is a minor effort. Expecting them to undertake the massive effort for the appearance of fairness is unrealistic.
HNJohnC 12y ago
Yup, in this day and age simplicity and clarity stand out and are appreciated by most people.
logicallee 12y ago
I don't know if you guys read the email in question - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17announcement1.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17an... it seems fine to me? c.f. Subject: good news and bad news Hey team, got some good news and bad news. The bad news is not everyone can be part of some of the current transitions, you're more than welcome to re-apply to new positions that will be evolving in the future, for those of you who are still relevant. The good news is that for those of you who are staying - Microsoft is now a mobile-first company! We're making the productivity equivalent of Angry Birds. Also, we're keeping xbox, you guys are cool. Peace yo.
trjordan 12y ago
Except, they're not laying off most of the staff. This email is, with 85% confidence, going to staff members who will not be fired. This is a notification that it's happening, that you're not going to be affected, and that they're doing it because they think it will help the company grow and adapt.

ggreer 12y ago

The only bit I would disagree with is, "For our business to continue running..." Last year, Microsoft made over $20 billion profit on almost $80 billion in revenue. The truth is that Microsoft has accumulated many useless employees over the years, and they could be even more profitable by laying off those people.

samuel 12y ago
"In order to maximize shareholder value in the long term..." I would hate to be fired, no matter the phrasing, but kudos to a CEO brave enough to say things just how they are.
brational 12y ago
"For our business to remain competitive... "
- danielweber 12y ago
  "For your convenience, 15% of positions will be removed."
vixin 12y ago
Not bad for a corpse, seven years later: http://paulgraham.com/microsoft.html http://paulgraham.com/microsoft.html
NoMoreNicksLeft 12y ago
Yes, but at that point it's not a "running business" but a charity. Pruning all the carefully hidden useless employees is a massive effort, getting rid of a department that is longer relevant is a minor effort. Expecting them to undertake the massive effort for the appearance of fairness is unrealistic.

HNJohnC 12y ago

Yup, in this day and age simplicity and clarity stand out and are appreciated by most people.

logicallee 12y ago

I don't know if you guys read the email in question - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17announcement1.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17an... it seems fine to me? c.f. Subject: good news and bad news Hey team, got some good news and bad news. The bad news is not everyone can be part of some of the current transitions, you're more than welcome to re-apply to new positions that will be evolving in the future, for those of you who are still relevant. The good news is that for those of you who are staying - Microsoft is now a mobile-first company! We're making the productivity equivalent of Angry Birds. Also, we're keeping xbox, you guys are cool. Peace yo.

trjordan 12y ago

Except, they're not laying off most of the staff. This email is, with 85% confidence, going to staff members who will not be fired. This is a notification that it's happening, that you're not going to be affected, and that they're doing it because they think it will help the company grow and adapt.