There is a widespread rumor in the internet that the world’s largest software company, Microsoft, is geared up to start laying off atleast 15,000 full-time employees. Currently, Microsoft has 91,000 employees world-wide and as per the news, the company will begin lay-offs world-wide as early as 15 January 2009. If this happens, it will be recorded as the first ever widespread job loss in the history of the company.

The worst hit would be the company’s MSN division. Microsoft has reduced its sales expectations by 90% for some divisions, thus resulting in a risk for all supporting departments as well. The only “safe” department would be the company’s Gaming division, as surprisingly this department has exceeded sales figures (by far). It has been also reported that Microsoft has already started giving deadlines to employees in some departments to find another position inside the company.

[source: cnet.com]