I was also sent off from Microsoft last Thursday. What a day. My observations:
- This was the best kept secret ever at Microsoft. Many VPs and directors were not knowing until the day of.
- It's clear the layoff decisions were not personal or based on talent or seniority, but just rather the high executives each doing a large pruning of their own branches. Whole branches of the company being lopped off because they had no role in the future picture. Especially after the Nokia buyout the total headcount was too high so this was also to get headcount under control.
- Severance terms were good.
Overall I can't blame Microsoft. Their competitors are making much more hay with much less people.