On Monday, Microsoft made a new announcement. The tech giant is offering voluntary exits to many employees in India, and three more countries.
With reports stating that as many as 60,000 workers are eligible for this buyout. This announcement has shocked many within the company.
One Indian software developer says that they received this email despite joining Microsoft just three months ago.The techie, who goes by the username clock-maker365, shared a post on the subreddit DevelopersIndia. “I feel desperate,” they wrote. “(The) thing is I joined 3 months ago, I have very low knowledge about the codebase.” The post has since been removed.The developer received the email mere hours ago, with a deadline for December 1 to decide their future. “Got the email about 3 hours ago. Microsoft is giving a “voluntary” retirement opportunity to 60K employees,” the post said. “You can just take the money and Dec 31 your career at Microsoft is over.
Last date to apply, 1st Dec.” Screenshot of the Reddit post. What made the developer worry was that not everyone at the company received the email. “The offer is for a lot of people but only a select few have received the email.
I’m one of those,” they said. “I got the email.” Take exit offer or get laid off?The techie claimed that it is possible that Microsoft wanted to oust him even if they did not take up this offer. “My thought process is, email means you’re on the layoff list,” they said. “By hook or crook, we will get rid of you.”While Microsoft has not commented on the possibility of another round of layoffs, the company did fire about 4,800 workers after giving voluntary retirement offers to some senior employees earlier this year. The developer find themselves in a tough state, worrying about the future after working hard for the past three months. “I feel like why the hell did I do so much hard work,” they explained. “Just to end up in this mess of a job market at a bloated company?
I feel like I am gonna puke.”Going forward, the techie asked Redditors for help with their future. They pointed out that they really had no backup plan. “I’ve 3 years of experience.
That’s it. No family business, 6 months of spending money, nothing more,” they wrote. “I can do DSA but who needs that, feels like it’s the most irrelevant skill I ever acquired.
What to do?”While the post has been removed from the subreddit, in one comment, the techie explained the severance package they were offered. “Basic pay of (2 or 3 months) plus 1 week basic salary (2 week basic for 6 months of job),” they said.One Redditor insisted that with Microsoft on the resume, the techie should find another job easily. “If you could join Microsoft you would crack any company,” the user said. One Redditor believes that the techie can easily find another job.
Another user, who claimed to have joined the company a month ago, also got a similar offer. “Relax dude I joined last month and I got the email too, keep a good amount of savings and start prepping, market is not that bad for someone who works at msft,” the person replied. One user said they received the same email after just one month at Microsoft.
Microsoft has sent voluntary exit offers to employees in India, Canada, the UK, and the US. Teams that are giving this option include Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox and Windows and Devices.
December 1 is reportedly the final day for those who want to take up this offer.- Ends