r/Layoffs • u/Dizzy_Brilliant7357 • 1d ago
question microsoft layoffs
long story short, my dad got laid off quietly. what’s going on? is this happening to other people or was it just bad luck?
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u/green-jellybean- 1d ago
Spotify has been doing this too since 2024
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u/Hedge_Fund_Hedgehog 19h ago
Not only Spotify, you can check my page in bio - the leader is Oracle this year
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u/Firefiresoon 1d ago
Fuck Satya and Amy. That's all I came to say here.
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u/IndyColtsFan2020 1d ago
Fuck them and their copilot shit too.
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u/Top-Door8075 1d ago
Fuck their shitty xbox console as well
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u/TopClassroom8510 1d ago
More like media player box. Xbox and slowly but not as certain PlayStation
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u/hypercolorsky 1d ago
If your dad is 40 or older and in the US, and this was a layoff not a firing, he must be provided with a list of those who were in the "decisional unit" (also being considered for layoff) and their ages. You can read more about it here: https://sobellawsolutions.com/blog-owbpa-disclosure-list
He also gets 45 days to sign any severance or other agreements, and he should not rush that. The company will try to push him to sign it ASAP, as it generally includes a release of any claims (so it reduces their risk of any legal actions).
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u/Economy_Feed_2460 1d ago
That is interesting to know about layoff disclosures. But many companies offer “early retirement” packages- a slightly glorified layoff. These packages are based on age and years of service- flagrant ageism with zero legal ramifications!
The real change is to come from Congress if they cared to do their jobs.
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u/Inevitably_Cranky 1d ago
Is that why I got a list of everyone who was laid off and their ages in my severance packet! It was so weird, I was wondering why.
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u/Existing-Fill-1693 13h ago
This is true. I have this list in my document. Though I am not sure how it helps because two out of 30 effected employee are both over 40 anyway.
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u/Bright-Fun-9933 1d ago
In the last two weeks, we lost 5 people on my team at Microsoft. They went into their annual “rewards” conversation with our manager only to find out it was their last day.
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u/misupriest 1d ago
That’s exactly what happened to me too.
All was ok at the end of the fiscal in my review, no clear signs that my performance was not good enough and then when I got the news about the rewards then I got also informed that I am laid off.Basically if you get no rewards or very low, you are out. They need more money for AI investment.
And I know so many other people that got affected in the same way and none of them is a slacker.
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u/The_Bread_Chicken 1d ago
Laid off or pipped with an option for 16 weeks of severance? My spouse works there. He's always had great reviews, but with what he has heard from others he is terrified to go to his rewards meeting. It's not yet scheduled. We are running out of nails to bite.
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u/misupriest 12h ago
Yes, I took the severance and left, PIP is useless if yur manager doesn’t support you (which is my case).
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u/The_Bread_Chicken 11h ago
But, but, with PIP you can collect unemployment insurance. If you quit you cannot. If he has to choose he's going for the pip.
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u/Brilliant_Ideal_8759 8h ago
Failing PIP might allow you to get unemployment but in the end, the GVSA is the better deal. Take it and look elsewhere for work. If you try to outrun the PIP you will most likely fail and it will be emotionally exhausting in most circumstances. And then you get what? The ability to get chump change in unemployment. You can get 4 months salary, take it.
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u/Minimalist2theMax 1d ago
The big tech CEOs are trying to engineer a new feudal society.
Doff your hat and say ‘yes, squire.’
Vote them out is the only answer. Because, yes, the layoffs are sweeping over the landscape and will continue, and accelerate.
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u/Brackens_World 1d ago
Many firms, MSFT included, do "quiet" layoffs, unannounced as there are not scores of people let go at once, so it does not make the headlines. This has been going on for a long time, unbeknownst to many. The most "popular" reason is to reduce the middle layer of folks, to flatten or consolidate teams, to reassign responsibilities, sometimes to offshore functions. MSFT scandalously announced layoffs two years ago dissing "'the lowest 25 percent of performers" or something, but the blowback was bad, and in your dad's case, it is unlikely to be a performance issue, but a duplication of function issue is my guess. MSFT is usually fairly generous as firms go when it comes to layoffs, and he can certainly reapply a bit later if he likes.
His best shot is to stay in touch with folks there, peers, ex-managers and the like, as they can be most helpful in his next venture.
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u/CastFarAva 1d ago edited 1d ago
I worked for UHG, which is the top 5 company in the US in terms of employee size and i think revenue too.
For the 10 years I was there, there were constant layoffs, some a bit smaller, but a few larger, about every 2 years (edit: larger ones were every 2 years, smaller ones more frequent, about 2x/year). There was 1 year which had layoff every quarter, this was the big one, and the funny thing is, they had posted a $45MM profit the qtr it started. But unlike other tech giants, they always flew under the radar and most of the times there was no big news. One reason for that is, they had several locations and employees were also scattered globally as they WFH. Also it had the most caustic culture and atmosphere but unlike Amazon you never hear about it. You hear how bad they are with insurance but not how bad their culture is. We were clearly told several years back by our director that they have terrible rating and Sr Leadership is working to bring the morale and culture up, but that never really showed the whole time I was there. Was the best day when I finally left.
Edit: larger one’s were every 2 years, smaller ones were like 2x/year
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u/dobber227 1d ago
Wells Fargo has been laying people off every Tuesday after payday for at least 2 years now.... quarterly would be a blessing.
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u/benskinic 1d ago
Microsoft also looks great on a resume. he can probably go many other places. the flip side of the coin is the financial tide is just going out. we had easy money, low rates and stimmy that has been drying up since 2023 and Microsoft also has a massive headcount they need to trim so execs can have bigger boats
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u/TedBob99 20h ago
All the tech companies are quietly and continuously laying off people. A few years ago, they were at least sending communication and fake apologies, but they don't care anymore now. Business as usual.
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u/stevekingc 1d ago
Given to H1B…..
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u/anvaredditter123 19h ago
Theres barely any H1B left, and the ones left are too afraid to switch jobs. For the last 2 years, it was a mass exodus for H1Bs out of US, and barely any came in because of $100k fees and visa appointment cancellations. Also, barely any jobs left after AI ate most of it.
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u/strebeld 1d ago
Most likely got 0 rewards in annual review, which gives you pip or volunteer leave. This is happening to a lot of people even when all their connects were positive.
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u/Blaxs_ 1d ago
sometimes jobs are just eliminated, other times its part of a larger effort. without specifics it's hard to say which is which. if he is good in his craft then he might want to look at consulting depending on if he is working towards retirement. otherwise its best to start looking. having ms on your resume wont' hurt.
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u/Wide-Quail4737 1d ago
Washington folks can check the future layoffs here and be alerted-https://esd.wa.gov/employer-requirements/layoffs-and-employee-notifications/worker-adjustment-and-retraining-notification-warn-layoff-and-closure-database
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u/No-Lettuce3564 10h ago
It amazes how many people still think the WARN system is accurate. This is why you are given 60 day garden leave at every major tech company during layoffs. Then WARN is posted, no major tech company is just dumping you in a layoff and ties cut the day of.
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u/Practical_Score_3501 17h ago
I’m sorry to hear that. I got laid off too and my former employer automatically enrolled me in Cobra without my election. I’ve received cards and bills. It’s been a nightmare trying to cancel it. I guess that was pretty quiet.
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u/Ir0nhide81 1d ago
This is most of the tech world now while everyone figures out how to balance AI with employee's and the pay between each.
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u/No-Mathematician1749 1d ago
Not a MS person but have lived in the area for 30 years. I’m curious if the RIFs at MS are proportionate to the workforce demographics or are do they seem to be directed towards particular groups of people?
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u/OpenTemperature8188 1d ago
is happening to all the firms which have invested in hyperscalers, the worst hit is oracle and meta
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u/jenniecal 10h ago
They already said they were laying off half of the planned people in July. The rest of the people being laid off will find out throughout the rest of the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2027.
I know my entire department is being set up to be given notice sometime in the next month or two. I work for one of their subsidiary studios on the XBOX side.
No one is safe. Even after they get through this fiscal year, I’m assuming that they will, again, not meet the growth “expectations” and there will be more layoffs next year. It’s become commonplace that every 6 months, they do a mass layoff.
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u/vovin777 5h ago
This has been going on for years now. The whole tech sector is in free fall as the focus shifts to AI
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u/Primus-Meridias 4h ago
It’s crazy these companies can do such massive layoffs and still qualify to hire employees on visa.
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u/ExtensionSet1349 1d ago
I think you have no clue, jobs in the USA are not secure, you lose s job and just concentrate on finding another one, don't sweat it.
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u/AWeb3Dad 1d ago
They are trying to survive. Many companies are
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u/mixmaster151 1d ago
Come on guys poor baby Microsoft is just trying to survive. They need that extra 100k salary in their bottom line I mean they only made 90 billion dollars in revenue last quarter an increase of 18% year over year AKA just trying to survive.
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u/spareohs 1d ago
Um they made almost $36B in net profit last quarter
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u/Reasonable_Box2568 1d ago
Hahah came here to say the same thing. They are not merely surviving. It’s all about driving shareholder value. These companies don’t give a shit about anything other than the almighty dollar which impacts their share price
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u/CenturyLinkIsCheeks 1d ago
hope he was the one that pulled the plug on outlook on his way out