Microsoft global lay off to impact Indian operations

Microsoft will lay off about 55 employees – one per cent of its 5,500 employees in India – even as the software giant announced plans to shed 5,000 jobs worldwide.

The Redmond-based company also claims to be going ahead with plans to hire 2,000-3,000 employees worldwide this year to focus on growth areas, including online services business and the enterprise server group.

The company said it would realign its business in the country and that it was also looking for alternative positions for the concerned employees.
 
Sources said Microsoft India has dismantled the Response Windows team completely.

The job cuts are part of the company's global realignment plans announced in January.

The company had laid off 1,350-1,400 people largely in the US in the initial round while another 3,000 were laid off on 5 May. Microsoft has so far eliminated around 4,500 jobs.

On whether more layoffs would be announced in the India operations, which have over 5,500 people on its rolls, sources said that such a possibility could arise under a new round of job cuts, though no hint or official announcement to the effect has come from

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, in a memo announcing the second round of job cuts, had said last week that the company would closely monitor the impact of the economic slowdown and take necessary action on its cost structure, including further job cuts.

The company is known to be focusing on some of its growth areas like online services business and the enterprise server group.