I knew times were bad, but damn! Two of Tech's Big Three jettison staff, plants

[thatcrazycajun]

Microsoft and Intel Corps. are announcing plant closings and massive layoffs. I never thought I'd see either of those two corporate behemoths be forced to this extreme, as pervasive as their technologies have become in all our lives. Our economy must really be tanking; guess high-tech toys are now among the big-ticket purchases consumers are putting off as more lose jobs and income. Or maybe not all: Apple Inc. is doing just fine, thanks, and so is IBM, with sales and profits up at both firms.

Memo to Pres. Obama and the Congress: get that new stimulus package passed PDQ, guys. And give Steve Jobs and Sam Palmisano each a call while you're at it to find out what they know that Steve Ballmer and Paul Otellini don't.

Comments

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

Wow, I agree - Obama (or some staff member) should call Steve Jobs...

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

Um, President Obama would have to call Steve Jobs at home -- he's on sick leave.

[wheezinggirl.livejournal.com]

IBM announced record profits yesterday, first time they made over 100 billion dollars. The stock went up over 10%. The layoffs are at Lenovo but they are their own company, though IBM still has a stake in them. There may be more in manufacturing.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Huh. Guess that's what I get for relying on the Net for my scoops. Thanks for the correction.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

Microsoft is laying off under 3% of its staff, if you factor in all of the new jobs being created.

So far today, I have heard from two people who lost their jobs on every internal mailing list I'm on.

I know the the press likes to invent stories, but I don't think I'd call what we had today massive layoffs.

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

Massive layoffs are what Mini-MS was reporting -- in the neighborhood of 15%. That didn't happen. Yesterday's cuts apparently were not in groups that actually produce product -- more like in HR, legal and accounting.