Microsoft cutting nearly 1,000 jobs as revenue slows

Expecting revenue to slow due to weaker sales of Windows licenses for PCs, Microsoft is shedding more staff in a bid to reduce costs.

The tech giant confirmed to multiple news outlets on Oct. 17 that it’s laying off nearly 1,000 employees worldwide. The move comes a few months after the company cut less than one per cent of its workforce in July.

“Like all companies, we evaluate our business priorities on a regular basis, and make structural adjustments accordingly,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC. “We will continue to invest in our business and hire in key growth areas in the year ahead.”

The company didn’t specifically disclose if Canadian employees will be affected by the latest round of cuts. Microsoft said the reduction will impact staff in different positions, levels, and geographic regions.

The North American tech sector has experienced a number of significant layoffs this year.

In addition to Microsoft, Meta, Shopify, Snap, Hootsuite, Article, Unbounce, Clearco, Q4, and Wealthsimple have substantially reduced their workforces as they continue to monitor market conditions.

As of June 30, Microsoft employed a global workforce of approximately 221,000 people.

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• Layoffs in Canada

Termination agreements for Microsoft employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Microsoft are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing or corporate restructuring.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

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• Severance for technology industry employees
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Severance packages in mass layoffs

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Before you accept any severance offer, have an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review it and your employment contract.

We can tell you if what you have been provided is fair and how to get proper severance if it falls short of what you are actually owed.

If you don’t receive the full amount, which happens often, you have been wrongfully dismissed and are entitled to compensation.