In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Microsoft has announced yet another round of job cuts, this time targeting those pesky underperforming employees. Because, you know, nothing says “we value our team” quite like a good old-fashioned layoff spree.
According to sources at Business Insider, the tech giant is taking a harder look at performance management, which is corporate speak for “we’re trimming the fat.” The cuts are happening across the company, including in its all-important security division. Because who needs security, right?
A Microsoft spokesperson, in a statement dripping with corporate jargon, said, “At Microsoft, we focus on high-performance talent. We are always working on helping people learn and grow. When people are not performing, we take the appropriate action.” Translation: If you’re not pulling your weight, you’re out.
Interestingly, Microsoft often backfills these roles, so the overall headcount might not change much. It’s like a revolving door of employment – out with the old, in with the new. At the end of June, Microsoft had roughly 228,000 full-time employees, but who’s counting?
This latest round of cuts is part of a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies have been tightening their belts and focusing on “efficiency” over the past year and a half. Microsoft, ever the trendsetter, announced 10,000 job cuts back in January 2023, and they’ve been periodically trimming the workforce ever since. It’s almost like a hobby at this point, and some of their largest cuts tend to happen during the summer and right near their fourth quarter earnings reports.
Unfortunately, if you’re a Microsoft employee, it might be time to brush up on your resume and start looking for greener pastures. After all, in the world of big tech, job security is about as real as a unicorn these days.
