Microsoft slashes 3,000 jobs

Microsoft on Tuesday notified more than 3,000 workers that it was eliminating their jobs. The layoffs are part of a second wave of notices tied to job cuts announced earlier this year.

The software maker said in January that it would cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months. It made 1,400 cuts at the time. With the latest cuts, Microsoft has now cut nearly the 5,000 jobs already.

Although it didn't announce further layoffs, the fact that it has already made all the reductions under the January programme means any further job actions will have to come under a new round of cuts. In a memo to Microsoft workers, CEO Steve Ballmer left the door open to further action.

Ballmer said in the memo, which was seen by silicon.com sister site CNET News: "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."

While the positions cut in January were more US-centred, the cuts announced Tuesday were split roughly evenly between US and other countries. The cuts were across the company in terms of job type.

"As part of the plan we announced in January to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, today we are eliminating additional positions across several areas of the company," Microsoft said in a public statement confirming the cuts. "While job eliminations are always difficult, we are taking these necessary actions in response to the global economic downturn."

The company still plans to hire 2,000 to 3,000 workers this year in some growing areas of focus, including its online services business.

Original article: Microsoft sends second wave of layoff notices from CNET News.com