There are reports that Microsoft will start laying people off starting Today Jan 22, 2009.
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Microsoft said it will cut up to 5,000 jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal, human resources and IT over the next 18 months. The first 1,400 jobs will be cut Thursday.

[ViaPcWorld]

I really hate to see this happen but I did suspect this to happen.   I get a feeling this isn’t the last we will see of Microsoft doing something like this.   I would suspect it will become even more than 5,000 jobs.  I will take a guess and say 16,000 will be the total or close to it. If you want to see the other layoffs I’ve talked here are few:

• Google Search
• Largest Employer : University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is planning layoffs!!
• Mahalo Lay’s off around 10% of it’s workforce!!
• Viacom and ATT layoff some people. (12,850 People)

I have several differnent articles about the layoffs but I did speculate they will lay off 16,000 people so I am sure it will happen in the next few months.  Only time will tell!!!