“We are permanently analyzing the impact of economic conditions on our sales and marketing business. The impact is minimal, a small number of positions in several business units,” Microsoft Romania General Manager, Calin Tatomir, told Business Standard. He added that, depending on the evolution of the market, new jobs could be established locally. “Eliminating positions is always difficult. We think that these measures are necessary to manage the company’s business, in accordance with the current economic environment,” Tatomir added.
Globally, Microsoft is finalizing the 5,000 layoffs announced in January ahead of its initial plan, at it originally scheduled the end of its personnel restructuring program for mid-2010. Microsoft hopes to save $1.5 billion (€1.12 bln) annually as the recession cools demand for software, according to a Bloomberg newswire.
The company could resort to further layoffs if the economic crisis becomes more severe. “We will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and, if necessary, we will take further actions on our cost structure, including additional job eliminations,” Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer wrote in an e-mail to staff obtained by Bloomberg News.
