Microsoft Lays Off 800 More Workers

November 4th, 2009 at 3:10 PM - News by Bryan Chaffin

Microsoft is laying off another 800 workers starting today (Wednesday). Microsoft characterized the layoffs as being part of an earlier plan to reduce its work force by 5,000 people, but the newest round will surpass that original goal.

The layoffs are being made "pretty much across the board," Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos told TechFlash, which first broke the story. They will be made at operations around the world, with about 200 positions in the Seattle and Redmond area in Washington State in the U.S.

Microsoft has been battling declining revenues exacerbated by the economic downturn that manifested in 2008. The company recently reported results for the September quarter that were ahead of analyst expectations, but the company felt the need to further react to its current business levels.

In a statement released to PaidContent.org, Microsoft sounded much like Apple when that company was making layoffs in the earlier part of this decade, saying, "We continue to hire in priority areas, but also understand that continuing to manage our businesses closely, as we always do, can mean additional headcount adjustments."

Apple shifted its headcount in small, but consistent doses as it ramped up its then-new retail business several years ago. At the time, Apple talked a lot about making headcount adjustments.