Layoff Service Pack - New comment on Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and...":

Hullo Mini,
We have been hearing rumors of another round of layoffs starting January. So the last milestone just crossed may be an early release with a Service Pack following shortly afterwards. What says you?

(I've been thinking of it as a Service Pack as well. If it, uh, happens.)

Great Comment, Layoffs, but - New comment on Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and...":

Whether the grapevine guy is correct or not, I just think it's beyond ridiculous that the SLT can't seem to get things right with these layoffs. I still do not understand why we cannot cut once and deep, and then be done with it.

I suppose, one reason might be, the company has got so much fat, that it'll take a while to figure out where all the bloat is. So, we may have to live with this until we do get to a point where the job is finally completed.

I sure hope there aren't any layoffs in December. Just let people enjoy the holidays, and then you can do it in January. Heck, if there are to be cuts in December, why the hell were they not included with the Nov. 5 group?

Now, as far as bad managers and naming names, etc, one thing I want to talk about is the practice of people following their managers around like clockwork. I suppose you can also say the managers are making sure certain directs always follow them to their new teams, like the loyal lapdogs that they are. I mean, doesn't HR see a flag when certain people have always had the same manager during their entire Microsoft existence? If you've been here for 10, 12, 15 years, and you've always had the same manager, that does not pass the smell test, period.

One such pair is CUT!

 

(Would have been a great comment, but unless they are executive / Partner level, I'm not into naming names here)

Dec 4th layoff + recaptcha tea leaves - New comment on Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Microsoft Layoff 2009 Completes Last Milestone and...":

Mini,

Dec 4th. There's another round.

Even Google's recaptcha is impedg (impending)

(Here I go again: we'll see.)

Right on the Nose - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

Nov. 4 prediction was right on the nose. Thanks to all of the posters who provided useful tips for being prepared.

(We'll see.)

Facts from Non-Trolls - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

There *will* be a layoff on Nov 4. My good friend at MSFT confirmed it to me yesterday. I'm not a troll. It's fact.

(We will see what the new morning brings)

STB Layoffs - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

STB is getting ready to do layoffs during first two weeks in Nov.

(CRF'ing these for now)

Office Layoffs - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

Office has scheduled layoffs on Nov 10th.

(CRF'ing these for now)

8,000 for next layoff - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

I have it from a pretty good source that a 7% layoff is locked in and 8000 people will be getting the boot.

I've also heard that lessons were learned from last time and there will be a concerted effort to not make the same mistakes (firing people that you have to hire back next day as independent consultants, dragging it out, allowing leaks, etc)

Could it be false? Of course. Only time will tell. But I would put my personal confidence in the source at about 60%, so take that for what it's worth. If I had to bet I'd bet we see the 8000 or so folks getting cut pretty soon and overlay resources taking the brunt of the hit.

(CRF'ing these for now - looks like we'll get Layoff Version 3 right)

11/4 Layoff Wrong - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

Mini, you're wrong to CRF the layoff that IS coming on 11/4.

(Does this make me doubly wrong? Offer me proof - like which groups and specific conference rooms booked by HR - and it won't be CRF'd)

11/4 Layoff - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

mini, no biggie if you want to push the 11/4 layoff messages to CRF, but it's not a rumor, it's definite. severance packages are being prepared for managers to sign, conferences rooms are being booked by HR admins, etc. this board will likely be the best place for people to share information given the very minimal information that will be sent internally.

(When the time comes, sure. If someone could point me to the booked conference rooms as an example, that would elevate this up from rumor to a threat.)

WEX + EPG get shafted - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

And I can not imagine that we (and by "we" I mean the Microsoft Senior Leadership Team) would be so dumb as to release our flagship product on a Thursday and turn around and fire a bunch of people the next day.

Prepare to expand your imagination a bit. We won't announce on Friday, but the next round (no, not the last) will be announced before the Thanksgiving holidays. EPG and Windows getting the shaft this time. Not Steve. Not KevinT. Not Robbie. Not the BOD.

**sigh**

(CRF'ing these for now)

11/4 Stealth Layoff - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

trust me, the layoffs are coming on 11/4. it is much more under the radar and on a need-to-know basis, with no big communications but it is happening. I know of a 6-person team getting axed, as well as a team going from about 35 to 30.

and assume the next one will be in +3 months, etc. again all under the radar.

(CRF'ing these for now)

Layoffs! Booga Booga - New comment on Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Windows 7 and a Grab Bag of Microsoftness Before F...":

Hey Mini - Nov. 4th - 5000 less people will be working at MS.

(CRF'ing again)

Mini-Tragedy - New comment on Quick Thoughts on the Microsoft 2009 Company Meeti....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Quick Thoughts on the Microsoft 2009 Company Meeti...":

I hope you sociopaths who put the corporate needs (a "mini" microsoft) before human needs are happy.

Let me tell you a story of one former microsoftie who once lived in Sammamish and with family and pets who got "downsized".

Because of his INCOME LOSS, he had to go through bankruptcy and foreclosure of the home he and his family lived in for the past 15 years while employed at Microsoft.

"Fortunately" he found a job at Home Depot but the depressed wages does nothing to replace in former income and living standards.

Now that his family has to vacate their home, the bankruptcy and foreclosure has marred their credit rating making it difficult for them to find a rental. Not only have they been displaced out of their home but the possibility of homelessness is VERY REAL. Oh and forget about the pets he had to put them "asleep".

If I was in his shoes I would have said FUCK this and left the country and since the banks got bailed out on the taxpayer dime. I would skip all of my debts since I paid my taxes and the banks got my tax money.

So you sociopaths should consider these aspect while you dream for a smaller Microsoft that will in the end only benefit Ballmer and his cronies.

(CRF'd - language. Language.)

Rumor on MSFT India - New comment on Quick Thoughts on the Microsoft 2009 Company Meeti....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Quick Thoughts on the Microsoft 2009 Company Meeti...":

Hey, just heard MSFT India is going to cut few more jobs. List getting ready in HR office. Anyone confirm?

(CRF delight)