“Rumors. Microsoft layoff and cut-backs and Reduction In Force rumors. That’s all I have for you. Rumors and second-hand speculation and the comments left by the fine, good-looking folks who participate in the conversation here. So pour yourself some holiday cheer and dive in,” Mini-Microsoft reports.
“What have those fine folks been sharing over the past couple of posts here? Bad news on the rise and with perhaps January 15th 2009 as an interesting day for Microsoft news. Bad news. 15 Jan is a week before FY09Q2 quarterly results and it’s better to share as much news, good and bad, before the results are released vs. surprising Wall Street (something I think we’ve learned),” Mini-Microsoft reports.
It all starts with…
Just heard on the finance grapevine. MSFT layoffs are coming on January 15th.
They are substantial.
Mini Microsoft reports, “Come 22 Jan 2009 Microsoft will be asked by the analysts what it is doing to contain costs. And I believe Microsoft will have an answer. I think this is one solution that you don’t want to be a part of. I’m all for cutting back, but it should have been done long ago, responsibly, vs. forced upon us.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If true, so many of those cubicle walls up in Redmond will miss their ardent admirers.
The layoffs will continue, until the economy improves.
The drinking will continue, until the economy improves.
The whipping will continue, until the moral improves.
The moral will improve, when the economy improves.
I hate to see people loose their jobs, but Apple is hiring.
Too big to fail; it will hurt the country? Time for a Microsoft bailout? (/sarcasm)
Microsoft laying off people is bad news. We need MS to be overweight, and these people need their jobs.
Hopefully they’ll just axe the entire Online Services group, save maybe their ad generation section; it’s just a waste of money.
And so will ‘morale’
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Guys this isn’t funny news…
Don’t live in a bubble!
Every sector is doing bad… Auto, Banks, Retail and the Computer industry.
Apple saw a 38% decrease in Computer sales in November… Let’s see what happens for December.
And once the new product launch is out in January, let’s see how Apple does in May or June before you start thinking that Apple is immune from the recession hitting the world… NO ONE IS!
Apple will have a full plate to deal with just like every company is right now…. Trust.
Apple will do the same…
Before it will happen to everyone… Think you’re immune? Wait a little while…
They could lose 10,000 middle management people and no one would notice.
As long as Ballmer stays for as long as it takes.
Remember children. Apple had more than $25 Billion in the bank. Thats a serious stash for a stormy winter’s night.
This news goes way beyond the Mac community’s justifiable disdain for Microsoft. Big layoffs ultimately hurt everyone and Apple could be next (although we certainly hope not!).
All those folks on MS’s payroll will all eventually be far better employed and more productive working elsewhere.
Even if they are shoe shiners…
Sorry. But no sympathy from me. MS employees know better than anyone that their employer is probably the most deceitful and manipulating organisation ever.
Apple spends it’s way out of recessions through Research and Development.
However it is a recession.
The new hiring rate may slow down.
To those who say, “What happens to Microsoft will eventually happen to Apple”, I ask where the hell is that first OS X self replicating virus?
@Kingme!
The typical phrase says “morale” but in Old Mac Addict’s case, I think he was making a statement about the values and morals of Micro$oft. 😎
$25 Billion on deposit but it earns just a few dollars monthly interest.
No way to run any economy anywhere.
/* They could lose 10,000 middle management people and no one would notice. */
Except for the 10,000 people with families and responsibilities.
A lost job is never something to joke about- .
Have a Happy & safe holiday everyone.
LAYOFFS LAYOFFS LAYOFFS WOOOOOOO I LOVE THIS COMPANY!!!
Microsoft will be asked by the analysts what it is doing to contain costs.
Costs are easy. What are they doing to contain Ballmer???
Ballmy and Gates should get the first two layoff slips. The board let this trainwreck develop, let them be the first to answer for it.
I disagree with those saying that “Apple will be next”. First of all, it seems oddly similar to the people who responded to the recent stories about an extremely serious IE vulnerability… by saying that Safari has vulnerabilities, too. Which may be true, but reveals an intention to change the subject, and derail conversation on the primary issue at hand.
Secondly, unlike what I’ve heard about Microsoft, Apple hasn’t gone on stupid hiring sprees, nor does it have a surfeit of dysfunctional fiefdoms within its ranks working at cross-purposes against the company as a whole to preserve their own existence. These rumored layoffs, if true, would be a belated and typically Ballmer-blunt response to something Microsoft should have started gradually cleaning up a long time ago. I’m sure Apple will need to be responsible and resourceful in the coming months, but it’s highly unlikely they’d need to resort to anything as extreme as this Microsoft rumor.
Finally, knowing Microsoft, they probably won’t be cutting back on any of their astroturfers in their Platform Evangelism department, since public perception is arguably more important to them than fixing things. I’d be quite interested to know how many comments are left on sites like this all across the internet from Microsoft and Microsoft-affiliated IP addresses.
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MS will send an email ordering all its minions to choose which is right. Those who make the incorrect choice will be fired.
You will loose your job.
You will lose your job.
Of course Ballmer will fire everyone who chose lose.
The best scenario would be that the rumor is untrue:
– an overweight M****S**t
– a false rumor damaging its stock value
– hords of self-serving speculators surfing MSFT’s downward fluctuations (oh wait, some of this kind have been on MSFT’s payroll… what if THEY got fired?:)
Microsoft’s lack of new products is leading to layoffs. Even Domino’s is very smart to go after a new market with new products in this tough economy by launching sub sandwiches. Growth requires going after new markets with new growth opportunities. Great companies focus on growth while weaker competitors try saving costs. Even the threat of Microsoft layoffs demonstrates the impact of Linux on the marketplace. Read more at http://www.ThePhoenixPrinciple.com