Microsoft is reportedly considering job cuts in what is described as an unprecedented move at the unstoppable software giant, while Google has decided to cull 100 recruitment staff.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is considering job cuts and may announce these cuts as early as next week.
The report said that Microsoft is “seriously exploring significant workforce reductions.”
There has been speculation that as much as 17pc of Microsoft’s worldwide workforce are in danger and that 22 January has been signalled as D-day for the jobs announcement.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s arch rival in the internet search and advertising business, Google, has already announced that 100 HR personnel are to be redeployed to other roles.
As well as this the company has asked 70 engineers in Texas, Norway and Sweden to move to new offices.
In a blog post today. the company said: “Our strong desire is to keep as many of these 70 engineering employees at Google as possible. However, we do recognise the upheaval and heartache that these changes may have on Google families, and that we may not be able to keep 100pc of these exceptional employees.
“Our long-term goal is not to trim the number of people we have working on engineering projects, or reduce our global presence, but create a smaller number of more effective engineering sites, which will ensure that innovation and speed remain at our core,” the company said.
By John Kennedy
