Summary: Microsoft is laying off more staff than we've estimated (even Azure staff) and the modus operandi disguises layoffs as mere departures (to make it seem wilful)

I RECENTLY spoke to someone from Microsoft (with no loyalty to the company; the person just views the job as means for squeezing out some cash before the company collapses). I discussed the Bill Gates deposition, the Gates connections to Mr. Epstein (a particularly strong connection which he does not deny). I learned about silent layoffs -- those unaccounted for in the estimated 5,000 layoffs that occurred throughout the summer (even Azure wasn't spared).

Protecting the identity of this source is of utmost interest; we therefore won't mention specific examples and leave things more sketchy than we would have liked; we have some leaks coming (clues here), but today we'd rather focus on what we learned.

"It's not all roses and a career at Microsoft is anything but rosy (they froze hirings)."In past years we spoke about how Microsoft had begun hiring temporary workers and/or contractors instead of full-time staff with permanent work contracts. This lets layoffs be labelled as something else. But as it turns out, Microsoft has another trick up its sleeve. Assessments of workers (or appraisals) happen in many large companies. Sometimes the rule is, those at the bottom X% must improve or will be replaced by newer workers (depending on the economic atmosphere). Sometimes they're given a warning or probationary period, which can be intimidating and stressful. But as it turns out, there's a new trick and it happens a lot at Microsoft. Low-performing workers are told to pursue employment elsewhere and then make a 'swift' transition/transfer; so in effect those are layoffs, but they're being spun as someone 'leaving' the company for greener pastures elsewhere (even if it was all along imposed). It's 'scripted' for PR (face-saving) purposes.

We don't suppose Microsoft is the only company doing that, but apparently this trick was exploited quite a lot lately. The company relies on bailout money, it is faking its financial results, and many people lose their jobs there. Don't be misled or fooled by festive superficialities (they're overstretching, just like the Linux Foundation, which also operates at a loss).

Ignore the flowers and kisses. It's not all roses and a career at Microsoft is anything but rosy (they froze hirings). We predict that sooner or later the financial fraud will become more widely seen. ⬆