Maybe they /want/ to see some increase in attrition due to the uncertainty. It's a very rough way of going about that, though.

That seems like a bad strategy since employees that are most in demand will be the first to find another job and leave.

Why would you quit when you'd get severance if you're laid off?

Maybe some employees are told the project or division they work on will shut down months from now, so start looking internally for transfers?

All employees get 60 days notice, so it seems like there will be 30 days of uncertainty. Maybe I'm optimistic.

That's not how it works. You won't be told 60 days before you are let go. You will be let go and then given pay for 60 days.

You are not disagreeing with gp: they are saying Microsoft will inform the people in 30 days, that's when they'll get a 60-day paid notice and the uncertainty ends. Hence the "30 days of uncertainty"

> 60 days’ notice prior to termination