New Delhi: Global software major Microsoft
will slash hundreds of jobs globally as part of its effort to
realign business activities.
The layoffs are expected to be across different locations
and businesses. Sources said the number of possible lay-offs
could be close to 800.
When contacted, a Microsoft India spokesperson said the
impact on the company's India headcount would be in single
digits. The firm currently employs about 5,300 in the country.
"We continue to review our business needs and align our
resources accordingly, be it our headcount or our spending.
The impact on India remains minimal and in single digit. At
the same time, we continue to hire in priority areas," the
spokesperson said.
In January, the software major had announced plans to
trim 5,000 jobs.
At that time, Microsoft said it would cut up to 5,000
jobs in R&D, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT.
Four months later, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had warned
the company might axe more jobs depending on the impact of the
economic downturn.
"As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor
the impact of the economic downturn on the company and if
necessary, take further actions on our cost structure,
including additional job eliminations," Ballmer had said in
May.
Bureau Report