Microsoft has let go of 6,000 workers, which is about 3% of its total staff. This is the biggest round of layoffs the company has done since 2023.
One of the people who lost their job is Gabriela de Queiroz. She worked at Microsoft since 2022 and was the Director of AI for Microsoft’s startup program. Gabriela shared on social media that she was told to stop working right away when she was laid off.
She wrote that it was “bittersweet news” and said she felt sad because many talented people she worked with were also let go. These people cared a lot about their jobs and worked very hard.
Even though she was asked to stop work immediately, Gabriela stayed a little longer to say goodbye to her team and finish some tasks. She said she still feels hopeful and thankful and believes every day is a gift.
Gabriela also sent a message to others who lost their jobs, saying, “You’re not alone. There are at least 6,000 of us.”
We were asked to stop work immediately and set an out-of-office.
But I chose to stay a little longer—showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could.
That felt right to me.
— Gabriela de Queiroz (@gdequeiroz) May 13, 2025
On social media, many people shared their support. Some said they hope better things are coming, while others talked about how hard the day was because they lost close colleagues.
A Microsoft spokesperson said the company is making these changes to help it succeed in a changing business world.
By the end of June 2024, Microsoft had 228,000 employees worldwide.
