Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by therealdrag0 on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @03:35PM
(#34418542)
It can be tedious to fire people. I know a manager at MS that has been struggling with a terrible performer for over a year. They are just now getting to the point of going through the processes (first gotta do RCA and try to fix etc) and having a paper trail down with HR to be able to fire them.
Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by drchopchop on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @03:28PM
(#34418439)
Firing IC's at large corporations usually involves some sort of a individual coaching/PIP plan. This takes time for managers and HR to write and implement, takes N weeks of observation, and creates nervousness in coworkers who think they might be next.
Much easier to do a Thanos-style snap and get rid of X% all at once, with no pre-warning or reasons required besides "challenging economic conditions".
Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by munificent on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @03:28PM
(#34418434)
> What's wrong with firing people during other economic conditions?
Layoffs have a huge psychological impact on the people who didn't get cut. If you do layoffs at a time when the economy is booming and jobs are easy to find, you risk losing your best performers who don't want to be at a company that fires friends of theirs.
It's easier to fire people when jobs are scarce and people are already spooked and disinclined to try to switch jobs.
Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by t-writescode on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @03:26PM
(#34418397)
Humans fire other humans. Layoffs allow for severance and unemployment, which can make the pain of firing someone and all the externalities that come with it far easier for a boss to swallow.
Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by moonchrome on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @05:46PM
(#34420604)
If you heard Microsoft just did 11k layoffs and then you got a job offer from them how does that sound to you ? To me it sounds like I could be in the next round if I get hired on the wrong team.
Re:Microsoft to lay off 11,000 employees
by confidantlake on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @08:36PM
(#34422294)
I declined an offer from Microsoft late last year, in large part because of earlier layoffs. I am sure I was not the only one.
Why would the paperwork be any different, whether it's a small layoff or a big payoff? Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V is cheap, Microsoft implemented it many times in many products.