In February we published Microsoft Laid-off employees layoff satisfaction survey result. On May 5, Microsoft had its second round of layoffs, let 3,000+ employees go. A number of former Microsoft employees had filled out our survey after the May 5th layoff.
Below is a summary of the survey result of Microsoft layoff round II.
Which department did you work for at your former employer?
The layoffs had affected many departments/groups within Microsoft. We’ve received survey responses from folks who worked in Services, Marketing, Research & Development, SMSG, etc.
How many days of advance notice did you get from the employer regarding the layoff?
Almost every survey respondent reported that he/she was given 5 days of advance notice.
What’s your severance package? (Salary, Medical, etc.)
- The "standard package" is 2 weeks for every 6 months of employment at Microsoft, 100% COBRA coverage for 1 week per 6 months employed
- Microsoft requires laid off employees sign an egregious severance agreement that limits their rights to due process and free speech.
- 80% of bonus at standard level.
- Vacation pay cashed out.
What’s the reason you were given for getting laid off?
Everyone was given the reason "position was eliminated" or "position no longer required/needed".
What do you think is the real reason that you got laid off?
- MS has a rating called “professional in place” – meaning you may be very good at what you do, but you’re not on track for the next level. I know that I had that rating last year.
- I held a lot of stock options that were a liability to the company (even though they were under water).
- I am not an H-1b or L-1 visa holder. Three L-1 visa holders on my team in in the USA less than 6 months still have their jobs. The American citizen over 50 was laid off and less qualified guest workers were retained.
- It is easier to cut entire groups than to re-align performers into new roles.
- I was a recent transfer, so it was the easy choice.
- politics; age; use of medical benefits; politics
Please rate how your former employer communicated the layoff?
40% of the respondents gave a rating of Bad, while 60% gave a rating of "Terrible".
Please rate your former employer’s management
40% of the respondent gave a rating of Bad, while 60% gave a rating of "Terrible".
Please rate your severance package
On average, people rates the severance package "Fair".
What were your top frustrations working at your former employer?
- Ridiculous bureaucracy making it difficult/impossible to do my job.
- The bureaucratic, meddling and useless middle management is strangling any true innovation or quick time to market products.
- Any idea sailed up the management chain gets 100 different fingers in it, bundled into "platforms" or cross-product "synergies" and en route it is modified exponentially from its concept.
- Senior leadership running the company without a rudder. lack of management accountability
- Age and citizenship discrimination.
What feedback do you have for your previous employer?
- Get rid of Senior Management that has failed to provide direction and failed to deliver year after year.
- Corporate Greed. Corporate Greed. Corporate Greed.
- No ethics. Microsoft needs a culling. The problem is, the area that need the culling is the one making the cut decisions. Until someone brave enough wades through the middle layers of Microsoft’s organizations with a machete, the current cuts will at best slow down actual work and at worst derail and demoralize what could have been effective market plays. Get someone who can show leadership to run the company. fire Ballmer; concentrate on core businesses; integrate the corporate values at every level of the company
Any words of wisdom/suggestions you want to share with fellow hard-working professionals who’re concerned about layoffs?
- I urge AMERICAN citizens to write their elected official and INSIST their elected officials pass Senator Durbin’s H-1B and L-1 Visa Fraud and Abuse Act. Senator Durbin’s bill change today’s H-1B and L-1 laws that allow employers to layoff American citizens and GC holders and replace them with L-1 and H-1b. Corporate Visa laws are broken and urgently need to change to protect the American Professional middle class.
- When management is hell bent on secrecy, no vision or ability to articulate strategy … Nobody is safe. Everyone from the best performer to the worst is on the chopping block equally. it’s not the end of the world.
- This is not the end of world. There is a lot of opportunities outside Microsoft.
- Treat layoff as an opportunity to explore
- Get your personal finance in order!!!
Related posts:
- Microsoft Laid-off Employees spoke up! — Layoff Satisfaction Survey Results – Microsoft
- Layoff Satisfaction Survey Results — Sun Microsystems
- Layoff Satisfaction Survey Results — AT&T
- Eight Tips for job hunting in a difficult economic environment
- What is the most effective way to network?
- How a house cleaner finds new opportunity to beat recession
- 10 Professional Development Actions that you can take to make you more competitive in today’s job market
- Who are making a lot of money from the economic downturn and where do they get their financial news and analysis?
Excellent resources:
- The Job Search Solution: The Ultimate System for Finding a Great Job Now!
- Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters: 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job
- The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success
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