Microsoft pruning more jobs |
The best places in the region for technology nerds -- including hidden gems and well-known spots not to be missed. Download the map or add your own location.
Today On Techflash
- Phillips indicted on fraud charges
- Starbucks adds BlackBerry app
- Video: Microsoft Double Rainbow
- Likewise says patent suit without merit
- Working title for Allen's book: 'Idea Man'
- Windows Phone 7: It's done
- Apple's edge in social music: Its users
- Blink buys Blue Flavor
- Marketfish hooks $1.5 million
- Apple answers Microsoft with Game Center
Tech Events
Mass High Tech
- Microsoft vs. Maritz: VMware CEO spars with new version of old self
- Allen sues Google, Apple, eBay, others over defunct lab's patents
- Flashback: Brad Silverberg and Bill Gates unveil Windows 95
- Gates gives pal Myhrvold biggest book plug in Twitter history
- Parallels names Microsoft exec president, and other tech notes
Microsoft pruning more jobs
Microsoft is preparing to make a new round of job cuts as early as tomorrow, according to people with knowledge of the situation, but the unconfirmed numbers we're hearing are relatively small in the scheme of things -- far less than the thousands of jobs cut by the company last year.
The move suggests the company is continuing to keep a tight rein on expenses, and its overall headcount, even as the tech industry emerges from the economic recession. The cuts come at the beginning of a new fiscal year, often a time when Microsoft makes adjustments in product teams to align them with new strategies.
Microsoft representatives declined to comment, and we haven't yet been able to find out which groups inside the company will be impacted most. Even with the upcoming cuts, the company is expected to continue adding jobs in other areas, as has been its practice when making layoffs in the past.
[Follow-up: Microsoft job cuts in hundreds, scattered across company]
Overall, the company has recently returned to growth mode, albeit modestly.
Microsoft worldwide employed 88,596 people as of the end of June, including 39,824 in the Seattle region. That was up slightly from 88,180 worldwide and 39,738 in the local region at the end of March, but still down from the 91,743 worldwide and 40,210 in the Seattle area at the end of July last year. The numbers don't include the company's substantial contract work force, employed through third-party vendors.
Because of the smaller size of these latest layoffs, it's not clear if the cuts will trigger a formal public announcement or acknowledgment by the company, but they're likely to make news nonetheless as the workers who lose their jobs tell others about the situation. The situation has been the subject of widespread rumors inside the company in recent days.
Microsoft reports quarterly and annual earnings July 22.
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Marchex COO Pete Christothoulou is leading the effort to transform the strategy and culture at the company. In this role he clearly sees the people he’s surrounding himself with as a key competitive advantage. Here’s a small sample from a recent Q&A with Pete:
What kind of person succeeds at Marchex?
• You are world-class or have the potential to be
• You will do the work yourself vs. constantly delegating/waiting
• You are a team player
• You have a sense of urgency
• You have a competitive spirit
• You are respectful
Read more from Pete at http://www.makehistory.com
Seattle’s One of a Kind Urban Rest Stop is Celebrating…
1,053 miles of toilet paper…
29,000 loads of laundry…
541,000 showers…
AND
10 years of providing something everyone needs –
A Nice, Hot Shower, a Shave and a Restroom
All Wet for the Right Reasons!
What: 10th Anniversary Party
Date: Saturday, August 28th
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Place: Urban Rest Stop, located at 1924 9th Avenue in Seattle (between Stewart and Virginia)
Info: www.urbanreststop.org and www.facebook.com/urbanreststop
Is My Business Out of Control?
You’ve probably heard about internal control, but you may not fully appreciate its importance until something goes wrong: information isn’t getting to you to allow you to run your business, money is missing, or things just feel out of control. What’s important when it comes to internal control and what isn’t? BDO can help you look at your processes and procedures and see where you might be exposed to control breakdowns. Contact Sharon Philpott, sphilpott@bdo.com, or Michael Reeves, mreeves@bdo.com, to learn more.
Win an unforgettable cruise down an epic river in Europe.
How to enter? Get to know US a little better to qualify for a chance to win this incredible trip – valued at over $7,000!
• Take this quick 5 question survey about the different sections of our new website
• For two bonus entries, answer the USTravel Facebook page question and the Viking River Cruise website question
Go to www.ustravel.us.com/sweeps and enter today.
KeyBank hopes that you table tennis competitors and fans had fun at the TechFlash barbecue. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth. We have a unique offer for people who switch to KeyBank: Get a FREE Sony® bloggie™ and KeyBank Rewards when you open a qualifying checking account by October 8. A bloggie is a portable handheld camcorder that records videos in 1080pHD with options to record in 720pHD or standard definition. It's also point and shoot camera that takes 5 megapixel images. Files are captured in MPEG4.
Upgrade your bank. Upload your life. Visit a local KeyBank branch today.
