Microsoft initiates Round Two of jobs cuts... Lays off 2,100 staff

Microsoft plans to cut 2,100 workers from its staff this week, as the tech giant continues to reshuffle the pack following its acquisition of Nokia earlier this year.

Announced during the Worldwide Partner Conference in July, CEO Satya Nadella revealed plans to cut up to 18,000 jobs over the next year in a bid to “simplify” the company’s functions as an organisation.

In round two of the record layoffs, Microsoft will let go 747 Washington state based staff, cutting the rest across the company’s many locations worldwide.

Seen as the biggest jobs cull since 2009, Microsoft says of the total, about 12,500 professional and factory positions will be eliminated due to the company’s integration with Nokia, which was acquired on April 25.

“Making these decisions to change are difficult, but necessary,” wrote Nadella, in a memo to staff in July.

Along with the second wave of cuts, Microsoft will also close its Research Lab in Silicon Valley, a facility which currently employees around 50 staff.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the lab will be closed this Friday, but stressed a number of positions have been made available to staff at other Microsoft Research labs across the world.

Well, so long Microsoft Research Silicon Valley. It was nice while it lasted.

— Derek Murray (@mrry) September 18, 2014