Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/07/08/microsoft_layoffs_employees_gripe/

Microsoft swings axe at 'hundreds' of jobs globally

Staff complain about lack of leadership

By Kelly Fiveash

Posted in On-Prem, 8th July 2010 12:37 GMT

Hundreds of jobs have reportedly been slashed at Microsoft offices across the globe, but the company is keeping quiet about the staff cuts.

TechFlash reported yesterday that Microsoft was set to cull a small number of its 88,596 worldwide workforce.

Microsoft hasn’t commented on the layoffs, but neither has it gone on record to deny them.

Since yesterday, alleged Redmond employees have been leaving anonymous comments on the Mini-Microsoft blog, mainly venting their anger at MS management.

One tearfully wrote:

“I love Microsoft. Microsoft has clothed and fed my family, directly or indirectly for almost twenty years. I owe so much to this company. I come in, I give 110%, but I see no direction, I see no recognition, I see no future, I see no leadership.

“Microsoft has become its own worst enemy, the leadership team is ineffective, and there is a huge need for house cleaning from the 64 to 68 level. I wish Bill Gates would come back. I wish a lot of bad decisions were never made. I feel that there is no way to change the negative course we are on, and Microsoft is incurably on a path to be only a shell of the company it once was.

“Layoffs? Mercy killings comes more to mind.”

Another anonymous commenter, who claims to be an ex-Microsoftie now working at Google, said:

“I wasn't a bad performer at MS by any means (left the company 5 levels up from where I joined), and as a matter of fact I admire bits and pieces of Microsoft to this day, but Google made me realise just how miserable I was there.

"I don't yet feel Google is the ideal place for me either, but one thing is clear - it's much easier to breathe here, if you know what I mean.”

More than 5,000 Microsoft employees lost their jobs in several rounds of cuts at the software giant last year. This time around the figure appears to be much smaller, which may go some way to explaining why MS hasn't gone on record about the latest cull.

But that hasn't stopped the gripes from demotivated staff at the Redmond ranch. ®