Skip Links

Network World

  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Close

(Comma separation for multiple addresses)
Your Message:

Microsoft lays off 800 people

The new cuts go beyond the 5,000 people the company said earlier this year that it would let go
By Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service
November 04, 2009 01:11 PM ET
  • Share/Email
  • Tweet This
  • Comment
  • Print

Microsoft is laying off another 800 people, adding to the 5,000 the company has already let go this year.

Slideshow of 2009 layoffs

The Techflash blog first reported the news.

The affected people are based around the world and work in various groups and will be notified on Wednesday, Microsoft said.

The layoffs are part of the plan that Microsoft announced in January to let go of 5,000 people, although Wednesday's action adds to that original number. "In the ensuing 11 months from January until now, we realized we had to move a little beyond the 5,000, so that put us at about 5,800," said Lou Gellos, a spokesman for Microsoft. While Microsoft initially said that it would complete the layoff program by June 2010, this round of layoffs finishes the plan, he said.

As is its usual policy, Microsoft will regularly monitor its size and make adjustments as needed, he said.

This marks the first large layoff in the company's history. It immediately let go about 1,400 people after the cuts were announced in January. It made an additional cut in May, saying that the round nearly completed the total 5,000 cuts.

At the time, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that more cuts could happen.

The most recent cuts follow an earnings report that included a 14% drop in revenue. Market reception to the news was generally positive, since the drop was less than expected.

  • Share/Email
  • Tweet This
  • Comment
  • Print

Partner Content

Gartner 2009 Magic Quadrant for Job Scheduling

Gartner has positioned BMC CONTROL-M in the Leaders Quadrant of their "2009 Magic Quadrant for Job Scheduling." The report assesses the ability to execute and completeness of vision of key vendors in the marketplace. Read a full copy today, courtesy of BMC Software.

Download whitepaper

Dell's SMART Approach to Workload Automation

Read a compelling case study by EMA, Inc. to learn how Dell uses BMC CONTROL-M to cut cost and increase productivity with workload automation.

Download whitepaper

Workload Automation Cost Savings 2 Minute Video

A major computer manufacturer uses BMC CONTROL-M and just four people to schedule and run over 85,000 jobs every month. By switching to BMC CONTROL-M, they more than quadrupled the workload without adding a single staff member.  See how in this 2-minute video overview.

Go to video

Comment
Login
Forgot your account info?
Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.

Videos

rssRss Feed