Microsoft treated its senior executives to a performance by English musician Sting in Davos, Switzerland, just a night before announcing layoffs, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The tech giant is one of many big companies to initiate layoffs, announcing on Wednesday, January 18, that it will cut 10,000 jobs.
The night before, Microsoft organised a private event in Davos, the venue of the World Economic Forum, which was attended by some of it top executives, the report said.
It is not known if Microsoft paid Sting to perform in Davos. But hiring performers for private events can cost over $500,000, Fortune magazine reported.
Microsoft said it is cutting jobs in response to "macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities".
“We’re living through times of significant change,” CEO Satya Nadella told the staff. “We’re seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.”
He added that the decision to cut jobs was "difficult, but necessary".
On social media, many criticised Microsoft for the concert
"I'm a big fan of Satya Nadella, but this is seriously bad executive symbolism," Columbia University professor Rita Gunther McGrath tweeted.
I'm a big fan of Satya Nadella, but this is seriously bad executive symbolism https://t.co/skuAJeKf0d— Rita Gunther McGrath (@rgmcgrath) January 19, 2023
"Massive layoffs but a private concert for the execs first," YouTuber
Robb Hood commented.
Massive layoffs but a private concert for the execs firsthttps://t.co/KW0gnChz6N— Robb Hood (@BostonRobb) January 21, 2023
"We can afford Sting but we can't afford you," another user commented.
We can afford Sting but we can't afford you. #Microsoft hosted Sting concert the night before announcing layoffs#Microsoftlayoffshttps://t.co/hvHCGGSAFB— Laura Topliffe (@TheTopLife) January 21, 2023
A fourth Twitter user said: "It’s bad enough the Microsoft execs paid a fortune to have a private concert before firing 10,000 people, but that it was Sting is rubbing salt into the wounds."
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