Microsoft Layoffs: Round 2 Begins, Affects R&D Operations

**Editor’s Note: Click here for a recap of layoffs impacting some of the biggest names doing business in the indirect channel.**

Round 2 of layoffs at Microsoft Corp. has begun.

The company said on Thursday that 2,100 around the world more people are losing their jobs, part of new CEO Satya Nadella’s goal to reduce staff by 18,000 people.

At the same time, Microsoft is shutting down its Silicon Valley R&D operations – employees actually broke that news by tweeting it, and Microsoft later confirmed with Reuters that the facility would close, meaning 50 jobs lost.

A spokesman told Reuters that Microsoft Research, which has more than 1,000 scientists and engineers worldwide, will consolidate its U.S. work at Microsoft’s main campus in Redmond, Wash., and in offices in New York and Boston. Still, 2,500 employees will remain at Microsoft’s Mountain View campus.

Microsoft laid off 13,000 people in July; this week’s wave of cuts means there are 2,900 more layoffs coming. Reuters said this most recent round mostly affected the Nokia handset business, which Microsoft bought in April.