Microsoft Layoffs: Tech Giant Dismisses Employees Citing Performance Issues

American tech giant Microsoft has begun terminating employees in the U.S. based on their performance, as reported by Business Insider. Termission letters referenced in the report show that impacted staff will lose their dental, prescription, and medical benefits right away. Three workers also did not get severance benefits.

The report cited the termination letters as stating that the reason(s) for the termination of your job are unsettled performance standards and expectations for your position and minimum requirements for it. “Effective immediately you are free from all job responsibilities and your access to Microsoft systems, accounts, and buildings will be removed.& You are not to do any more work for Microsoft.

The letters also said that Microsoft would consider their past performance and firing if the terminated employees seek future post there. One of Microsoft’s top grades, somewhere up to level 80, employees have performance appraisals done on them on a regular basis. Microsoft had around 228,000 full-time workers by June 2024. The report says that by extending the empty roles the company will be able to keep its general staff count despite the layoffs. The report also stated that Microsoft laid off people across sales, gaming, experiences and devices, security, and sales divisions earlier this month.