tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post1271342629092048574..comments2024-03-18T12:52:48.117-07:00Comments on Mini-Microsoft: Microsoft Layoff 2009 - Day 2Who da'Punkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18205453956191063442noreply@blogger.comBlogger520125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-52472487495519330372009-02-03T21:29:00.000-08:002009-02-03T21:29:00.000-08:00"Ex-msft employee here (2000-2007) I work for a gr..."Ex-msft employee here (2000-2007) I work for a great company right now and we have 2 open positions in Manhattan (level 67+ pay for an IC... but remember that it's expensive to live here). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to specifically reach ex-msft employees? Most job boards are location specific, so most people in Redmond won't be looking in NY."<BR/><BR/>Dude, same here. I was 2000-2008 and am hiring in the greater NYC area. I need 3 developers with C#/.NET and SQL skills. I don't know how to reach people that are good that either got laid off or want to leave. Yes, my company recruiter can do a search, but I want to reach those that were affected or hurting. Any takers...can we find a way to connect? (sorry can't sponsor visas, citizen or green card only)<BR/><BR/>I am a current MS employee who hasn't been laid off (in the first round), but am so demoralized that I would be happy to leave for a more exciting opportunity where I could actual have some real impact in delivering great products to customers. I would love to hear about these NY area opportunities - how can we connect?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-29840459410244791452009-02-02T23:46:00.000-08:002009-02-02T23:46:00.000-08:00""Should I ever find myself asked to share a room ...<I>""Should I ever find myself asked to share a room with a random coworker, I would laugh and say that's so 90s!. :)"<BR/><BR/>I suppose you have never attended MGB, MGX, tech Ready, Huge team offsites etc where when you attend in thousands you share room. You can laugh all you want but no way an org can book 15000 rooms for an event like MGB"</I><BR/><BR/>We don't need 15,000 Microsoft employees attending MGB, oh my god!<BR/><BR/>Ditto transcontinental travel: taking away business class for people who must fly overseas for work is fracking insane -- having just returned from an exhausting week in Europe I would have been far less effective had I travelled coach. What we need to do is curtail a bunch of long-haul travel that isn't necessary, so the people who do need to travel can do it in a manner that allows them to remain healthy and productive.<BR/><BR/>If we were to get serious about innovating in remote video conferencing -- like serious for real, pushing the tech forward -- we could eliminate 75% of travel in 5 years... that would save the company tens of millions each year easily.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-35618383727463884212009-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:002009-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:00I work for SMSG outside of the US. the chances of ...I work for SMSG outside of the US. the chances of my being in the 5000 is ZERO. its ZERO even if this figure was 10000. <BR/>the fact of the matter is, i will still look to change my job now. the reason is that the inflation figures in my country are around 10% year on year. if i am sure that my pay will not increase for the next 18 months atleast; this will make me actually LOOSE money.<BR/><BR/>this is a good enough reason for many good to outstanding performers like me to make a move.<BR/><BR/>a very dumb move on part of MS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-20184061644659453882009-01-27T02:08:00.000-08:002009-01-27T02:08:00.000-08:00"Ex-msft employee here (2000-2007) I work for a gr..."Ex-msft employee here (2000-2007) I work for a great company right now and we have 2 open positions in Manhattan (level 67+ pay for an IC... but remember that it's expensive to live here). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to specifically reach ex-msft employees? Most job boards are location specific, so most people in Redmond won't be looking in NY."<BR/><BR/>Dude, same here. I was 2000-2008 and am hiring in the greater NYC area. I need 3 developers with C#/.NET and SQL skills. I don't know how to reach people that are good that either got laid off or want to leave. Yes, my company recruiter can do a search, but I want to reach those that were affected or hurting. Any takers...can we find a way to connect? (sorry can't sponsor visas, citizen or green card only)<BR/><BR/>-might consider posting in facebook :2009 MSFT Laid off Workers<BR/>http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49462626446Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-47461343113550102092009-01-27T01:34:00.000-08:002009-01-27T01:34:00.000-08:00Why would you ever book 15,000 rooms? Seriously? T...Why would you ever book 15,000 rooms? Seriously? This company is gone, Foley's book on the company isn't about how the company will stay relevant - its about how the company dropped the ball and lost relevance. But that was 10 years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-48408171031297335752009-01-26T20:37:00.000-08:002009-01-26T20:37:00.000-08:00"Should I ever find myself asked to share a room w..."Should I ever find myself asked to share a room with a random coworker, I would laugh and say that's so 90s!. :)"<BR/><BR/>I suppose you have never attended MGB, MGX, tech Ready, Huge team offsites etc where when you attend in thousands you share room. You can laugh all you want but no way an org can book 15000 rooms for an event like MGBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-12079890249731743402009-01-26T20:27:00.000-08:002009-01-26T20:27:00.000-08:00Yes..MGS RTC..Its truely sad...they are all loyal ...Yes..MGS RTC..Its truely sad...they are all loyal microsoftees, with great talent...i think they lacked descretion and prudence while making this decision..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-28249716129476946342009-01-26T14:06:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:06:00.000-08:00"GM's and above travel like kings and ignore edict...<I>"GM's and above travel like kings and ignore edicts to save money on travel (first class all the way, black cars with drivers, meal allowances that would feed small countries for a day). All the while the staff shares rooms, travels coach and takes public transportation. If you ever see a VP in coach, you know it was a mistake by their admin. Real savings starts with sacrifice at the top, not the bottom."</I><BR/><BR/>Um, my GM and VP travel just like everyone else -- coach for domestic, business class for transcontinental.<BR/><BR/>We all stay in very nice -- but not extravagant -- hotels when we travel. We all eat well, but we're not buying 300.00 bottles of wine.<BR/><BR/>I've also heard that there are groups who still share rooms, but the last 3 I've been with have not... sharing sleeping and bathing quarters with strangers isn't really a great idea in the modern world of HR-based litigation. Should I ever find myself asked to share a room with a random coworker, I would laugh and say <I>that's so 90s!</I>. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-38003189113500772212009-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:002009-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00While MSFT has the right to what they need to for ...While MSFT has the right to what they need to for their business the recent cuts are much more than people losing their jobs. It affects the whole tech industry and deeply affects every community where Microsoft touches - even if they don;t have an office in the area. i wrote a blog post about this a few weeks ago - It was entitled "Welcome to the MotherShip Land - Please Stay" - Link: http://jshueywa.blogspot.com/2009/01/welcome-to-mothership-land-please-stay.html <BR/><BR/>The point of this blog post was more of a plea for MS to do what it needed to do, but to be cognizant that what they do has a wide ranging impact.<BR/><BR/>I worked for Microsoft for 5 years. I loved working for Microsoft for many reasons - not the least of which was the pride that we were doing a lot of good. Some may disagree with this point, but I beg to differ with them. I worked on the partner team and focused on helping partners grow their business. Yes, Microsoft benefited to, but most important was the fact that we were helping customers around the world. <BR/><BR/>I'm not naive enough to think this day could not have come. However, I do think it could have been handled differently. Hindsight is 20-20 and I'm sure there will be many, many arm chair quarterbacks evaluating this one.<BR/><BR/>My suggestion to all those affected --- Keep the Faith! There are things out there. I know - I was laid off from Open Text in Nov 2008. I have spoken to numerous companies - SI's, ISV's, vendors and consulting firms. There are things out there. Keep the Faith.<BR/><BR/>Feel free to contact me directly via e-mail: jeff_shuey@hotmail.com or follow me on Twitter (@jshuey) or find me on Facebook and LinkedIn (Jeff Shuey).Jeff Shueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330227001342433310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-77523391755485402332009-01-26T10:31:00.000-08:002009-01-26T10:31:00.000-08:00Criminals. Failures. It didn't have to be this w...Criminals. Failures. It didn't have to be this way. To those who lost jobs, my thoughts are with you. To those with jobs, my hopes are with you that you are not in the 3,600. To those who regard themselves as above this or seem to think that performers don't have to worry, I issue a challenge. If you are as good as you say and you are all about the "greater good" why don't you work to change things and help eliminate the 3,600 pink slips coming the way they are. I am not saying stop layoffs or resist downsizing, but help steer it to a smarter reduction if one need occur. It doesn't have to be this way. <BR/><BR/>For over 10 years I did all I could for the company and was rewarded with regular gold stars and rose from PM to Director. I am better off for the experience and it still makes be a better person today. I didn't leave Msft, at least the msft I thought I worked for. I left some other company - not the Msft I joined. Sure, some will sit back and say here we go again with some sad story from an out-of-touch softie who needs to let go. Perhaps. Once I left I never looked back until this weekend when I was curious how the blog reacted to all of this. I want to agree with all of those who say the "we will be okay if we just work harder, we can make a difference." I want to agree because it used to be close to true but sadly, few really can. I started at Msft but I felt I left Safeco or some other day-to-day job. I respect the opinions but I am saddened that people defend this by saying how "real world" it is. Well, we were never a real world company. We didn't have to be. It still doesn't. <BR/><BR/>I am stunned that those who professes to love the company and believe so deeply that it is worth all the sacrifice are also willing to settle. I never was and when that was the only future for the company, I left. I'm not going to gloat or complain, I don't really care for the post-Msft everything is rosy comments I read. It is different. Benefits were taken for granted by me, pay is better for some, worse for others I know. The thing is that for me, and many I know, staying was the only option worse than leaving.<BR/><BR/>It will be easy for some to label me or dismiss me, that is the right of anyone in a blog like this. Perhaps my writing is more for me than others, I don't really know. I just feel strongly that people are hurting and being hurt and I just look at lost and missed opportunities. I made an amazing living there. I rose higher than most would have ever dreamed of. I presented to Billg. Kind of a jerk in person but was a great experience for me. Traveled the world. Worked with the smartest people I have ever met. I remember making a conscious choice to wear the blue badge in plain sight back when it was a badge of honor. I get that it is a "different world" but I don't get why it is so different. Here is why I opened with such strong words. Hoping to read some feedback and others opinions regardless of tone and point of view - that is what made it so cool there - I hope that hasn't changed.<BR/><BR/>Criminals? As someone who worked with VP's and folks at all levels across the company I used to summarily dismiss the ranting of the "haters" as we called them. I am not one of those....or have I actually become one.....I guess I don't know. The core of Msft has been and will always be the OS- to challenge this I would ask someone to present a strong case for any product or service that is where it is without the benefit of this monopoly. Office? Sorry, I was involved there and I know how the early days of our practices put that product where it is. Frankly, what else is there other than those two? I keep reading about the loser steveb is, and frankly I think I agree with most of those posts, but was billg all that better? Is Msft better off for all of his last 10 years of leadership or did he leave the company the way it was a decade ago, or worse. Once the practices that you are regulated for did get the os and office rolling it would have taken a real loser to mess up that machine. IMO, that did not happen. But what else did that is anything like that success....or leads in any market sector. Rather, he left a legacy of failed and late entrances and some staggering legal costs and fines. <BR/><BR/>Ask yourself this: How many jobs needed to be lost if we didn't have to pay billions in legal fees, fines, and strategists to keep defending the sins of the past. Do you know how fast and how big the internal and external legal machine has gotten (for every contractor you have to let go ask yourself this: are we cutting back on outside legal fees in any country in the world?). Billg was and will always be a hero to me in some aspects but he failed miserably as the head of anything other than the os and office. But he failed at the thing I never imagined. He failed you 1,400, you 3,600, and the rest of us that either left dismayed or are still there. It didn't have to be this way. Investing billions in business models that never made sense and never panned out and spending billions on fines for decisions you made and ending up with a company that is no better than what you already had a decade ago is nothing short of a failure of his leadership and no, balmer is no better. <BR/><BR/>I keep saying it didn't have to be this way. I look at the argument so many "haters" made to me for years. It wasn't that our code was any good it was that better code never had a chance to see the market. As one who marched in the group to squash any potential serious threat it has taken a long time to value their position, but I see it more clearly now and I see it through this round of what is likely only the tip of the iceberg in layoffs and in cuts into the "package" you all signed up for. It is simply this. It was always about the people. It is what I hear over and over again....working with the best and brightest was and is amazing. Getting the most out of the best and brightest led to amazing things. That is makes me sad when I see the folks say how all other companies go through this or times like these are what is causing this. WTF? What other companies have no debt? What other companies have the billions of ready cash? What other companies can say with a straight face that they have had the best and brightest for the last decade? I suspect someday the very companies that we compete with will be the answer to those questions.<BR/><BR/>Billg failed us. Steveb will continue to. HR, faith in Lisa???? Many of us saw that as the official end of a company that used to value the people. <BR/><BR/>Those that defend all of this base most of what they say on the fact that this was and is done because of the size of the company...a company that never should have grown to this and in this way. That is on billg and steve together. The argument that as a public company we have to do all of this.....for shareholder value, right???? Where is that and how has that been working for us for the last 5 or so years. Shame on those who let this happen. Shame on me and others who were naive to think we had a different kind of company. Shame on all those, past and present, who allowed this march to just another company. It didn't have to be this way and I don't know if you all can ever slow it, let alone turn it around. Am I alone in this type of thinking? Am I off base? I'd love to read and see what people are thinking beyond the initial shock or pain they feel. Do you feel you are making that difference you thought you were? What does it say about a company when the strongest advocates seem to agree that this is business as usual and yet see great things ahead. It seems contradictory to me. It is either a great company that is different because of the people - and the people are different because of the company and how they are valued and treated; or, it is just another business and things like this happen in just any business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-7337516794955946192009-01-26T09:47:00.000-08:002009-01-26T09:47:00.000-08:00Your accrued vacation pay is considered "earned" p...Your accrued vacation pay is considered "earned" pay at the date of your termination of employment.<BR/><BR/>This has to be paid out to you on the next regular pay cycle after your termination date.<BR/><BR/>Your termination date is 60 days after your job elimination date.<BR/><BR/>The 60 days between your elimination date and termination date are to satisfy the WARN requirement (in leiu of notice).<BR/><BR/>I highly recommend that if you are concerned about your severance package that you contact outside legal counsel (i.e. - hire a lawyer at $300/hr for about an hour at most) to review it and answer any questions you may have.<BR/><BR/>Do not count on blogs, legal advice boards, etc for the final word on this. Talk to a professional that is licensed to practice law in your state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-76167327999958042152009-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:002009-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:00To anonymous Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:15:00 PM -...<I>To anonymous Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:15:00 PM - your severance payout is based on your service date which should be 8 years. I would double check in headtrax to confirm your service award date.<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>Actually, that is incorrect. If you were at MS for 5 years, left for a year and then came back for 3(as 3:15 did), odds are you will be treated as a 3-year employee. Sometimes when someone comes back to MS, they can negotiate back in their years of prior service, but you have to explicitly requst that (and have it granted by the new hiring manager).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-37913950587222787352009-01-26T09:10:00.000-08:002009-01-26T09:10:00.000-08:00Hey Sunday, January 25, 2009 10:57:00 PM...I'm gla...Hey Sunday, January 25, 2009 10:57:00 PM...<BR/><BR/><I>I'm glad to hear I can apply for openings. I'm disheartened that I don't have the same ability to research product groups before walking into an interview, as those who still have corpnet access do.</I><BR/><BR/>My sense is that anyone who was laid off would be starting with 4 strikes against them. Being selected for the layoff will probably be seen as a 'scarlet letter' by most hiring managers and HR.<BR/><BR/>In my experience, managers (and HR staff) at Microsoft operate from the assumption that all other managers are reliable and infallible: they are going to assume you were laid off because you were the "dead wood" on some other manager's team, and they are going to be very, very reluctant to give you a chance. They believe in the system -- they're the ones who are benefitting from that system, so it's only natural for them to feel that it's fair and a true meritocracy. It's <B>very</B> self-reinfocing.<BR/><BR/>I think it's probably safe to assume that anyone in the first wave has virtually no chance of even getting an interview, never mind actually being hired.<BR/><BR/>I'm looking elsewhere. Hopefully someplace where the inmates are not running the asylum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-56406390132234372472009-01-26T09:05:00.000-08:002009-01-26T09:05:00.000-08:00"In other words, by my reading, the 60 days base p..."In other words, by my reading, the 60 days base pay mandated by WARN includes your unpaid vacation time. It appears that we will not be paid out for vacation time ON TOP OF the 60 days. The unpaid vacation time will offset pay we would have received as part of the WARN notice."<BR/><BR/>Are you sure about this? Based on my conversation with HR I could have sworn they told me my vacation time would not only be added on to the lump sum payout at the end, but would continue to accrue during the 60 days. Guess it is one more question to add to my list...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-35202123948848355892009-01-26T08:40:00.000-08:002009-01-26T08:40:00.000-08:00I concurr with Previous Anonymous who said about o...I concurr with Previous Anonymous who said about our current reality that ".. what I saw which was 90% internal focus and 10% external focus!". This is quite true and has become worst since kturner come to the company. He brought the Scorecards that permeate to all level and that demand so much attention from field and above that we waste most of our time just trying to avoid Red or Yellow, we are not caring for quality, process and not even customer, just the color of the lights on Kevin's scorecard. Leave the scorecards out, lets not spent internal time showing green lights and let us go to the external customer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-43794129933553495172009-01-26T02:14:00.000-08:002009-01-26T02:14:00.000-08:00to Sunday 11:27 AM and others on the severance pac...to Sunday 11:27 AM and others on the severance package:<BR/><I>I reviewed some of the paperwork and it went like this. 60 days of pay and considered to be on the payroll including benefits; actual date of termination is March 23rd. Considered an employee on the payroll until that date (but with no corpnet ect access). Plus, there's actual severance pay on top of it, <B>vacation pay payout</B>, and money towards continuation of benefits after the loss of employment.</I><BR/><BR/>As one of the 'lucky' 1400, I have been reviewing the package (level 64 & below) and noted the following:<BR/><BR/>'Your severance pay will be reduced by any period of pay you are provided under the WARN Act or any similar laws and <B>any paid leave provided to you in connection with your termination.</B>'.<BR/><BR/>In other words, by my reading, the 60 days base pay mandated by WARN <I>includes</I> your unpaid vacation time. It appears that we will <I>not</I> be paid out for vacation time ON TOP OF the 60 days. The unpaid vacation time will offset pay we would have received as part of the WARN notice.<BR/><BR/>Complete BS. Would love to learn that I'm wrong about MS' position on this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-32629372051180791472009-01-25T22:57:00.000-08:002009-01-25T22:57:00.000-08:00TIA - Did you have to turn in your badge on Friday...<I>TIA - Did you have to turn in your badge on Friday? If you did, then you were not given a job search. This does not mean you can't apply for a job, but you will have to do it from the external site. You will not be given any special consideration or have access to the internal career site.</I><BR/><BR/>Do those given the job search get any special consideration beyond the earlier notice of openings that the career site provides?<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to hear I can apply for openings. I'm disheartened that I don't have the same ability to research product groups before walking into an interview, as those who still have corpnet access do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-89638195325969172002009-01-25T21:19:00.000-08:002009-01-25T21:19:00.000-08:00Re: Regarding the response to: Regarding some of t...<B>Re: Regarding the response to: Regarding some of the comments regarding H-1 workers</B><BR/><BR/>The quoted text referring to a requirement for good faith recruitment of a US worker applies only to "an H-1B dependent employer". Microsoft Corporation does not meet the definition of an "H-1B dependent employer" and hence is not subject to the requirement for good faith recruitment of US workers prior to hiring a foreign worker under the H1-B program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-42747804309328426952009-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:002009-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:00To anonymous Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:15:00 PM -...To anonymous Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:15:00 PM - your severance payout is based on your service date which should be 8 years. I would double check in headtrax to confirm your service award date.<BR/><BR/>TIA - Did you have to turn in your badge on Friday? If you did, then you were not given a job search. This does not mean you can't apply for a job, but you will have to do it from the external site. You will not be given any special consideration or have access to the internal career site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-62845784507550847202009-01-25T19:54:00.000-08:002009-01-25T19:54:00.000-08:00>> For some who are planning to file a law s...>> For some who are planning to file a law suit against MS for unfair layoffs, please don't. You won't win it and you don't deserve to win. I am sure MS legal dept has already started spinning their wheels and they are 20 steps ahead of the curve.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like an HR/LCA troll trying to discourage those who were laid off from pursuing it.<BR/><BR/>Don't guess about this. Look at the company's history. Ask the permatemps and Europe (EU) about how impossible it is to win against the formidable MS legal department. It's doable, but only if people believe that and try.<BR/><BR/>I already have my first short-term, part-time consulting gig. I'll land on my feet. But I still feel that it is likely a law or contract provision was violated by this week's events, and would be strongly tempted to participate in a class action if I agreed with its grounds. It's nothing personal, just business. Capitalism isn't just for business owners, it's for everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-22071180214415481182009-01-25T19:04:00.000-08:002009-01-25T19:04:00.000-08:00>My understanding of middle management is the f...>My understanding of middle management is the following people:<BR/>PUM<BR/>GPM<BR/>Dev Mgr<BR/>Test Mgr<BR/>Group Mgr<BR/>etc<BR/>So, basically, people in the 64-66 range, level-wise.<BR/>The majority of these people absolutely contribute nothing at Microsoft. They're obstructionists more so that being supposed "visionaries".<BR/><BR/>As an IC for ten years and reporting to many managers I can say that this is not entirely true. I would say about 25%-40% are doing sweet Fanny Adams. There are a lot of excellent managers in this company it just takes a few unqualified managers to f@#$ up things for many highly technical/qualified individuals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-25609727640242620572009-01-25T18:26:00.000-08:002009-01-25T18:26:00.000-08:00Good luck to all who have been laid off. Microsof...Good luck to all who have been laid off. <BR/>Microsoft is no better or worse than other large comapanies when it comes to efficiency. GM's and above travel like kings and ignore edicts to save money on travel (first class all the way, black cars with drivers, meal allowances that would feed small countries for a day). All the while the staff shares rooms, travels coach and takes public transportation. If you ever see a VP in coach, you know it was a mistake by their admin. Real savings starts with sacrifice at the top, not the bottom.<BR/>The layoffs this time are small and were badly handled. They should have reduced the number of GM's by 500 and that would have really saved money. Each GM dreams of VP land and works hard to preserve their empire instead of produce something.<BR/><BR/>Good luck to all who remain, try and stay positive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-54214593980296635592009-01-25T18:15:00.000-08:002009-01-25T18:15:00.000-08:00MSFT would be better off to throw in the towel and...<I>MSFT would be better off to throw in the towel and let Google be seen for the monopoly that they are. That will attract the attention of the EU and DOJ. </I><BR/><BR/>Interesting concept. Can antitrust law be used to make Google unbundle the advertising system from search using logic similar to the EU's new case about IE? <BR/><BR/>I.E. in a monopoly situation users should be able to choose from competing advertising providers or alternatively choose not to receive advertising at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-79675918559984771122009-01-25T17:48:00.000-08:002009-01-25T17:48:00.000-08:00for the poster asking what TREAT isit was pretty m...for the poster asking what TREAT is<BR/><BR/>it was pretty much a secretive weekend boondoggle for a number (~800) high level prinicpal and partner types. <BR/><BR/>Someone let the cat out of the bag in the mini comment section, after which LisaB quickly did damage control, she posted on insidems explaining what it is and then had a micronews story for it<BR/><BR/>no doubt one of many embarassing defeats of LisaB by mini, what a joke of an HR directorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-56210327936715960192009-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:002009-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:00Regarding the comment that leads are also supposed...Regarding the comment that leads are also supposed to be IC's and manage people, I agree with the other comments that it has stopped being so in MS a lot time ago. Especially in the test org, none of my leads owned any features or were testing the product. I bet my current lead cannot run our BVT's or does not know how we use WTT in our team. I am sure he can figure it out but does not care because that is not going to get him the promotion/visibility that he seeks. They spend too much time on scheduling and obtaining the status from IC's and are in meetings all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com