4 ms·

Just when I was starting to think Microsoft had turned a new corner. Can't say I'm surprised. But definitely a little disappointed. I guess it's just part of th

Just when I was starting to think Microsoft had turned a new corner. Can't say I'm surprised. But definitely a little disappointed. I guess it's just part of their corporate identity.

Havvy 12y ago
Every organization has its share of problems. Microsoft has quite a lot of them. They are working on some of them, but others linger...
tluyben2 12y ago
All big companies have this; if you have a lot of employees and buy a lot of companies which need to be 'integrated' you'll have elaborate plans to sack them without it costing too much money. It sucks but it happens everywhere. It is really really hard not to be evil as a big company, hence it's probably better to just stay small if you have that goal. In some companies you have a social net to catch you; I believe companies, when hiring/acquihiring, should be held responsible for those people. But I understand this is not (always) possible. The staff being the most important asset of a company (as they like to say) usually only goes for the super-human part of the staff, not for the rest.
- meesterdude 12y ago
  I appreciate your thoughtful response. Though I don't think it's a size thing, I think it's about culture and priorities, and being beholden to stock holders and profits; having no loyalty for the employees (or likely customers) that got you to where you are. Some people / companies believe that the only way to get ahead is by screwing someone else over; either out of some money, or out of a job, or what have you. That's just a shitty way to do business, and a clear sign of lack of respect or appreciation. But then again it might be a scale thing with them and a matter of acquisitions and such too, as you said. +1 for staying small; or at least growing slowly and carefully. Companies that just spam hire are likely not thinking about how they'll support any given hire for the next few years let alone the rest of their lives.
leoc 12y ago
Let's wait for nice, approachable Mr. Nadella's response to this. I'm sure he'll be right on it.
hga 12y ago
This case goes back to when stack ranking was ruling the company, and managers had to get rid of a certain fraction of employees. That they would tend to choose older ones is no surprise. Note the system was so perverse managers would, if they could, store up genuinely low performing employees precisely so that they had ones they could sacrifice.

Just when I was starting to think Microsoft had turned a new corner. Can't say I'm surprised. But definitely a little disappointed. I guess it's just part of their corporate identity.

Havvy 12y ago

Every organization has its share of problems. Microsoft has quite a lot of them. They are working on some of them, but others linger...

tluyben2 12y ago

All big companies have this; if you have a lot of employees and buy a lot of companies which need to be 'integrated' you'll have elaborate plans to sack them without it costing too much money. It sucks but it happens everywhere. It is really really hard not to be evil as a big company, hence it's probably better to just stay small if you have that goal. In some companies you have a social net to catch you; I believe companies, when hiring/acquihiring, should be held responsible for those people. But I understand this is not (always) possible. The staff being the most important asset of a company (as they like to say) usually only goes for the super-human part of the staff, not for the rest.

meesterdude 12y ago
I appreciate your thoughtful response. Though I don't think it's a size thing, I think it's about culture and priorities, and being beholden to stock holders and profits; having no loyalty for the employees (or likely customers) that got you to where you are. Some people / companies believe that the only way to get ahead is by screwing someone else over; either out of some money, or out of a job, or what have you. That's just a shitty way to do business, and a clear sign of lack of respect or appreciation. But then again it might be a scale thing with them and a matter of acquisitions and such too, as you said. +1 for staying small; or at least growing slowly and carefully. Companies that just spam hire are likely not thinking about how they'll support any given hire for the next few years let alone the rest of their lives.

leoc 12y ago

Let's wait for nice, approachable Mr. Nadella's response to this. I'm sure he'll be right on it.

hga 12y ago

This case goes back to when stack ranking was ruling the company, and managers had to get rid of a certain fraction of employees. That they would tend to choose older ones is no surprise. Note the system was so perverse managers would, if they could, store up genuinely low performing employees precisely so that they had ones they could sacrifice.