Microsoft has conducted a fresh round of layoffs, just months after it announced that it is cutting 10,000 jobs in January.
The latest round
The difference this time around is that the scale is smaller. According to a report by GeekWire 276 jobs are being cut.
Microsoft confirmed the layoffs and said, “Organisational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business.
We will continue to prioritise and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”
Earlier layoffs
Back in January, Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees or about 5% of its total headcount.
Satya Nadella, CEO had cited over-hiring during the pandemic and macroeconomic conditions as the reason behind the massive layoffs.
He said that despite the job cuts the firm was still hiring.
“It’s important to note that while we are eliminating roles in some areas, we will continue to hire in key strategic areas.
We know this is a challenging time for each person impacted.
The senior leadership team and I are committed that as we go through this process, we will do so in the most thoughtful and transparent way possible,” Nadella had said.
Affected region, departments
The laid off employees are in the Washington region of the US.
The cuts will affect 210 workers in the company’s Bellevue and Redmond offices and 66 virtual staffers.
Departments affected
The departments that were impacted include customer service, support, and sales.
“Sales teams seem to be the most impacted so far, along with employees in support roles, education, and Microsoft’s Modern Work teams,” Tom Warren, senior editor at the Verge, tweeted.
What next?
Many who were let go took to LinkedIn to share the news and their thoughts going ahead.
Some expressed gratitude for their time at the company, while others acknowledged change to be a part of their professional lives.
Coming to the company, Microsoft notably is making significant investments in the AI sector, particularly in Bing Chat.
Whether this will have a hand in future job cuts or not, only time will tell.
