Barely 24 hours after rumours started about layoffs at Microsoft ADC Kenya, an employee has confirmed that he was affected by the layoff which is part of a global job cut at the big tech.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it is laying off 10,000 employees due to macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.
“As we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, we’re now seeing them optimize their digital spend to do more with less,” Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella says. “We are also seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.”
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said that the layoffs will run from now through to the end of Q3 2023. Within this period, the company said it will still hire for “strategic positions”.
“We will continue to invest in strategic areas for our future, meaning we are allocating both our capital and talent to areas of secular growth and long-term competitiveness for the company while divesting in other areas,” Satya said in a memo to Microsoft employees in January 2023.
As part of the cuts, the big tech laid off about 2,700 of its Seattle-based employees. Microsoft reportedly laid off its entire ethics and society team; only about seven people were on the team after it was reorganised last October.
What’s happening at Microsoft ADC?
Edward Ochieng, the CTO of Sklylab Systems, a Kenyan software development company on Tuesday, March 28 alleged that there is an ongoing layoff at the Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Kenya.
“Something bad is happening at Microsoft Kenya (ADC)—layoffs,” Edward tweeted. “They have been expecting it but now it’s happening”. He told Benjamindada.com that some of his friends were affected.
Yesterday, Kipkorir Arap Kirui who has been working as a product manager at Microsoft ADC Kenya since 2021 disclosed that he was laid off. “At 4:30 pm [on Monday, March 27], I was informed that Microsoft had made my role redundant. I have many unanswered questions, and it will take some time to come to terms with this news. However, I do find solace in knowing that it was not due to any performance-related issues,” Kirui wrote in a LinkedIn post.
Tabitha Maina, Microsoft ADC communication lead is yet to respond to our request for comment on this issue. However, similar allegations have not been made about the Lagos-based office.
Although Satya clearly stated how affected US-based employees will be treated amidst the layoffs, he did not make specific mention of Africa or other regions. “Benefits for employees outside the U.S. will align with the employment laws in each country,” he said in the internal memo.
The benefits for affected US-based employees will include “above-market severance pay, continuing healthcare coverage for six months, continued vesting of stock awards for six months, career transition services, and 60 days’ notice before termination, regardless of whether such notice is legally required,” Satya disclosed.
Source : benjamindada.com
