t's definitely disheartening for anyone to lose a job they worked hard to secure.
Over 3,500 employees, including those at tech giants Microsoft, UKG, and Unacademy, are currently going through this experience due to layoffs.
Although Microsoft has not officially released details, affected employees have expressed their dissatisfaction on LinkedIn. According to GeekWire, the roles of product and program management have been hit the hardest. A Microsoft spokesperson emphasized the importance of organizational and workforce adjustments as a regular part of managing the business.
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As a result of the layoffs, many former Microsoft employees are now posting "looking for a job" messages on LinkedIn. For instance, Sonja Delafosse, who worked at Microsoft for nine years as the director overseeing Microsoft’s AI professional development strategy, wrote: “Hi everyone – I was impacted by the latest round of layoffs at Microsoft and am starting to look for a new role. I would appreciate your support. Thank you in advance for any connections, advice, or opportunities you can offer.” The layoffs affected also the company, the mixed reality department that was working on HoloLens 2, along with Azure for operators and Mission Engineering.
An employee at UKG acknowledged the recent layoffs and emphasized the importance of supporting each other during this challenging time. A company spokesperson mentioned that UKG is making organizational changes to focus on growth and long-term strategy. "While decisions that impact our team are not ones we come to lightly, these changes will allow us to redirect resources and invest in key areas of product innovation while enhancing how we support our customers. We are committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition,” the spokesperson added.
Open Text Corp, a Canadian business software company, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 1,200 positions as part of a business optimization strategy aimed at achieving approximately $200 million in annual savings.
Indian companies are no strangers to layoffs. For example, the edtech company Unacademy laid off approximately 250 employees. The company, valued at $3.4 billion in 2021, has been reducing its workforce since schools reopened after the pandemic lockdown. Since then, approximately 2,000 employees have lost their jobs.
Layoffs.fyi, a website that monitors tech layoffs, reports that 360 companies have let go of 104,410 employees in 2024. Additionally, major players in the industry such as Microsoft and Google have announced significant job reductions in June and July. The reasons provided include economic uncertainties prompting companies to prioritize efficiency and cost-cutting, restructuring following acquisitions, and project terminations.
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