[woi13]

1. Any reason why executive pay can't be reduced and save these jobs ? Why pay stupid executive million and millions dollars and chop jobs of these poor people ?

2. Who determines who gets to stay and who gets to be fired ? Fucked up ranking system ? Ass-Lickers ?

3. Anyone saying layoff are good should really take second look outside during daytime ( 9 - 5). Once you are in battleground of searching job its hell. Really , its hell. People don't fucking respond even though you have many blazing things to show. You know why ? Because , you may not necessarily be good fit ? Your age , Your cool factor , being fucking social comes into play. If you are in 30s and have given up coding , good luck finding something in management.

4. If you are on H1-B , its grand fuck. You get 15 days to leave country or find new job. Overstaying is illegal and you seriously jeopardize green card , stamping process. Many companies ( mine being medium size ) have automated notification to DHS about H1-B status update, cancelling petition, visas.

edit : Can't believe so many shills here. Let the downvote brigade begin. Have a good life.

[vlunkr]

It sucks that people have to lose their jobs, but Microsoft isn't a welfare program, they exist to make money, and that drives all of their decisions.

[throwaway0010]

If the job is unnecessary why would it be a good idea to "save" it?

[woi13]

i'm not at Microsoft. But, think from prospective that someone could be having life event. Some put years worth of efforts that including physical, mental energy into MS ( or previous Nokia ) , planned something and now potential job loss could be trigger to disaster.

[mynameisvlad]

Boo hoo. That's how the world turns. Microsoft is not in it to save jobs, it's in it to make money. They have absolutely no obligation to keep someone if they don't need them anymore, just like any other company. It sucks that people are being laid off, but that just comes with having any job. You have to realize that at some point, it is going to end. It will suck when it does, but life goes on.

[kanwisher]

It seems like if you didn't have a green account, you would have been down voted. Seems like an overly angry un HN post

[gfodor]

re: #1 point is less about cost cutting per se in a lot of cases and more about creating a more efficient and productive organization by firing people who are a drag on things. of course, this is microsoft we're talking about here, so ymmv.

[woi13]

I understand your point. However, its not necessarily people who are drag will get fired. Many smarties , especially one who keep to themselves will be included as well.

I feel sorry for those who are being let go.