Job cuts have been “weighing heavily” on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, he said in a memo to employees following the company’s latest round of layoffs.

Microsoft has cut over 15,000 jobs in 2025, including about 9,000 in a recent wave.

Nadella noted that headcount remains “basically flat,” despite the reductions.

As of June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 people, but has not updated its headcount since.

The layoffs come as Microsoft’s stock hit a record high, closing above US$500 on July 9.

Some employees have criticized the move, questioning its alignment with the company’s values.

“This has done so much damage to that loyalty,” one employee wrote on LinkedIn.

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