Microsoft employee shares her layoff story with a positive message for others impacted: 'We got this'

In a move that shook the tech industry, Microsoft announced it would lay off approximately 6,000 employees—around 3% of its global workforce. The decision marks the company's most significant round of job cuts since 2023 and has left many long-serving employees grappling with uncertainty and disappointment. A number of affected workers have turned to social media to share their experiences, giving a human face to the widespread corporate restructuring.

One long-serving employee named Carsolina Walton, whose commitment spanned over seven years at Microsoft, publicly chronicled her experience on LinkedIn. She recounted how her day took an unforeseen turn when a last-minute meeting was added to her calendar by her immediate superior. Initially, she was filled with confusion, trying to grasp the purpose of the urgent gathering, which mentioned topics ranging from the company’s priorities for the upcoming fiscal year to potential reorganization plans. Her realization was stark and sudden when an unfamiliar voice joined the call—her introduction to the reality that she, too, was among those being laid off.

Throughout her post, she reflected on a remarkable tenure at Microsoft. The final two years of her service were dedicated to projects in accessibility and sustainability, areas for which she harbored personal passion. These projects had provided her both professional fulfillment and the chance to contribute meaningfully to causes that resonated deeply with her values. Despite the shock of her dismissal, she remained optimistic about the future. She expressed her intent to use the coming days as a period of introspection—to contemplate her career trajectory and explore new opportunities in a challenging job market.

Her heartfelt message also conveyed solidarity with her colleagues, sending positive thoughts to all those affected by the layoff. Inviting former contacts and prospective employers to connect, she underscored her readiness to embrace a new chapter. The raw honesty and vulnerability in her account captured the broader human element behind corporate decisions, highlighting how even in times of uncertainty, the resolve to adapt and overcome persists.

As per her LinkedIn profile, Walton is a seasoned program manager with a background in finance and marketing. Prior to joining Microsoft, she was a corporate auditor at Nike and a financial consultant at Kaiser.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Microsoft had a global workforce of approximately 228,000 full-time employees as of last June—the most recent disclosure of its total headcount. Of these, around 55% were based in the United States, underscoring the company's significant domestic presence.

This development comes just a few months after Microsoft implemented a smaller round of layoffs in January, which were tied to individual performance reviews. While that earlier move impacted fewer employees, the current 3% workforce reduction marks the company’s most significant layoff since early 2023. At that time, Microsoft let go of about 10,000 employees—approximately 5% of its global staff—as part of a broader industry-wide trend. Major tech firms, including Microsoft, began scaling back their pandemic-era hiring surges in response to evolving economic conditions and operational priorities.

Microsoft's latest decision reflects ongoing efforts to reassess staffing needs amid rapid changes in the tech landscape, signaling a continued shift away from the growth-at-all-costs mindset that dominated during the height of the pandemic.