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[Pelta88]

On Wednesday morning Microsoft announced it was laying off 10,000 employees, about 5 percent of its total headcount, in response to lowered revenue and a “re-aligned core structure.” Hours earlier, dozens of Microsoft executives attended an exclusive, company-funded Sting concert outside of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The combination of the two events is a shockingly tone-deaf look for the world’s largest software maker.

The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the Tuesday night concert, which was reportedly an “intimate” gathering of 50 or so people. Gordon “Sting” Matthew Thomas Summer is one of the most recognizable rock musicians in the world, whose private appearances generally cost around $500,000 according to AAE Music. It’s not known if Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who personally signed the blog post announcing the mass layoff, attended the concert, though he was present in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

Nadella did not announce any cutbacks for executive pay or bonuses.

Microsoft execs partied with Sting in Davos hours before announcing layoffs

Microsoft paid for a private Sting concert in Switzerland the day before announcing it will cut 10,000 jobs.

www.pcworld.com

 

[FBeeEye]

What were they supposed to do? Fast in sackcloth and ashes?

 

[Nankatsu]

MS executives be like:

Be yourself no matter what they say

 

[Tomeru]

Good choice

 

[Pelta88]

What were they supposed to do? Fast in sackcloth and ashes?

Not being so hilariously tone-deaf would be a start.

 

[Wooxsvan]

 

[anthony2690]

Sting personally handling the firings.

Spoiler

I hope those affected land on their feet quickly

 

[mansoor1980]

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

Cunts

 

[bender]

I've got a message in a bottle for Satya after he told 10,000 employees, "don't stand so close to me". In your fields of gold, I'll be watching every breath you take. You'll be so lonely and with a stolen car.

 

[theHFIC]

Globalists gonna globe

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

Davos?

 

[Valkyria]

Capitalist are starting to sound a little too much like the French royals at the end of the 18th century.
Let them eat cake.

 

[El Pistolero]

That is the world we live in, unfortunately. We are faced with so many SERIOUS problems (Climate change, recessions, terrorism, massive inequalities, artificial intelligence related challenges...), and we, as a human race, have been unable to propose an alternative to the current socio-economic paradigm. Am I mistaken in believing that we are headed toward some major catastrophes?

 

[SlimySnake]

Lol Nuttella was giving himself bonuses for giving away $1 gamepass subs to artificially boost gamepass numbers.

Cant believe people still suck corporate dick on forums after seeing how these losers run this business.

 

[laynelane]

This article from yesterday already isn't aging well. I guess the author didn't know about the lavish party when praising Nadella's empathetic approach to laying off thousands of employees.

 

[Skifi28]

Surprising news, I thought they'd be home crying themselves to sleep.

 

[damidu]

this is almost parody levels of a “fuck you” lol
where was spencer at?! uniting nations again?

 

[Dick Jones]

 

[AmuroChan]

That is the world we live in, unfortunately. We are faced with so many SERIOUS problems (Climate change, recessions, terrorism, massive inequalities, artificial intelligence related challenges...), and we, as a human race, have been unable to propose an alternative to the current socio-economic paradigm. Am I mistaken in believing that we are headed toward some major catastrophes?

Ironically, one of the major talking points at the WEF over at Davos is about how climate change is to blame for many of the world's issues. Even more ironic, most of them elites flew private to Davos.

 

[Gudji]

 

[remember_spinal]

As we walk in fields of goooold

oops that was used already

“Cause thats just the shape of my heart”

 

[.Pennywise]

 

[Gudji]

Damn that receding harline, then vs now:

 

[UltimaKilo]

What were they supposed to do? Fast in sackcloth and ashes?

It must be kinda awkward to sit there with only 50 people and watch Sting perform. I mean, I would go, but it would be awkward. Do you clap, cheer, nod?

 

[Kilau]

If you’re one of those 10,000 this news has to sting a little.

 

[Jaybe]

Can you blame them?

 

[kiphalfton]

Is it sad that's who I thought they were referring to?

Edit:
Also imagine everybody's reaction finding out congressman are eating good, while we are roughing it.

News at 9 "Rich people celebrate, as poor people grovel"

 

[hybrid_birth]

What were they supposed to do? Fast in sackcloth and ashes?

That’s what my bible says to do.

 

[feynoob]

Not being so hilariously tone-deaf would be a start.

You expect anything from those excutives?
They are just you, but loaded with cash.

Morality is only for poor people. If you are rich, you dont give a crap about it.

 

[Banjo64]

They had reason to celebrate. Adding 12 cents to the share price.

 

[Hobbygaming]

I heard Phil was slapping strippers with Xbox gift cards

 

[Kilau]

Can you blame them?

He did the sacking too.

 

[lachesis]

I heard there was a huge influx of sex workers at Davos for the WEF too.
Well, private jets, away from their wives, hookers/booze galore, high end food and & private Sting party etc all sound grand.
But that fowl smell of hypocrisy is just so awful - and seeing them that they have some sort of moral upper hand over general population.
True leaders would set a example of themselves first, and these things are not a good examples.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

It must be kinda awkward to sit there with only 50 people and watch Sting perform. I mean, I would go, but it would be awkward. Do you clap, cheer, nod?

None of the above. You do cocaine.

 

[fermcr]

Damn... I wasn't invited.

 

[jhjfss]

 

[bentanchorbolt]

NeoGAF slowly turning into ResetEra. None of this should bother you.

 

[Punished Miku]

In their defense if you lay off a ton of people you probably have extra funds for parties

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

What were they supposed to do? Fast in sackcloth and ashes?

Seriously? I assume this is a joke, but they could have just not done the completely superfluous and tone deaf concert, wasting $500,000+ when supposedly they’re pinching pennies enough that 10,000 people need to be laid off. It’s just a matter of having common sense and being aware of poor optics. And just giving a shit about people other than yourself, basically.

 

[ReBurn]

Well yeah they have the money now

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Yea how many jobs could they have saved for the year just with the sting booking fee…even if it’s one it’s worth it. Fuck corporate culture. The don’t gotta stare out a glass window contemplating, but spending on frivolous things before layoffs, silly.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Yea how many jobs could they have saved for the year just with the sting booking fee…even if it’s one it’s worth it. Fuck corporate culture. The don’t gotta stare out a glass window contemplating, but spending on frivolous things before layoffs, silly.

Absolutely agreed. Well said.

 

[Ronin_7]

So much for unions & workers rights

FTC saw their bullshit from miles away, that Woman is a Fucking genius

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

NeoGAF slowly turning into ResetEra. None of this should bother you.

Considering his booking fee, they had to layoff 10k people, let’s low ball it and say they only paid him 750k you have no issues with executives who make millions a year using budget to party with celebrities when they just announced layoffs due to economic pull backs?

https://www.celebritytalent.net/sampletalent/4011/sting/

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

NeoGAF slowly turning into ResetEra. None of this should bother you.

It’s ok to admit when corporate greed takes a front seat to giving a shit about other people (especially your own employees). And to call it out for what it is. There’s nothing to defend here.

 

[jakinov]

this really isn't that interesting, it's even stated in the article the event was likely planned very far in advanced and a common thing for tech companies to do. Optics are bad but it doesn't sound that scandalous from what we know. The amount of money involved isn't really that high either. From what I've seen unless companies are pressed for cash and struggling nobody is going to cut benefits and discretionary spending for employees. Because it's not a lot of money and it goes a long way with retention. It's a drop in the bucket compared to employing a bunch of people you don't need anymore.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

this really isn't that interesting, it's even stated in the article the event was likely planned very far in advanced and a common thing for tech companies to do. Optics are bad but it doesn't sound that scandalous from what we know. The amount of money involved isn't really that high either. From what I've seen unless companies are pressed for cash and struggling nobody is going to cut benefits and discretionary spending for employees. Because it's not a lot of money and it goes a long way with retention. It's a drop in the bucket compared to employing a bunch of people you don't need anymore.

They could’ve easily canceled it, though, all the same. And I very much doubt retention is an issue at all, in regards to the 50 C-suite executives that were invited to the private party.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Considering his booking fee, they had to layoff 10k people, let’s low ball it and say they only paid him 750k you have no issues with executives who make millions a year using budget to party with celebrities when they just announced layoffs due to economic pull backs?

https://www.celebritytalent.net/sampletalent/4011/sting/

It’s ok to admit when corporate greed takes a front seat to giving a shit about other people (especially your own employees). And to call it out for what it is. There’s nothing to defend here.

This doesn't seem worth getting upset about.

 

[Topher]

"an “intimate” gathering of 50 or so people"

You booked Sting for that?