Microsoft Layoffs (Image Source: iStock)
After more than two decades at Microsoft, 62-year-old Joe Friend faced an abrupt career setback when he was laid off in May 2025, upending his plans for a smooth transition into retirement, according to a report by Business Insider. Nearly six months later, he remains uncertain about his next steps but is certain that his journey in Big Tech has come to an end.
Earlier this year, Friend, who served as director of product management and led a team of nine, began hearing talk of potential restructuring that could impact mid-level managers. Yet, he didn’t expect his own position to be affected.
When the layoffs were announced in May, Friend and 14 other members of his group, including four managers, were let go. “I wasn’t entirely surprised by the layoffs. I was surprised to get caught up in them,” said Friend, who lives in Washington.
Retirement Plans Disrupted
The timing of the layoff made it especially difficult. For Friend, the decision was “doubly shocking” because it disrupted a long-term retirement plan that was just three years away. He had intended to work until 65, a milestone that allows most Microsoft employees to continue vesting stock grants even after leaving. “My plan was to figure out what I wanted to do over the next three years,” he explained. “Then all of a sudden I’m at the doorstep, and I have to make that decision now.”
Microsoft’s Broader Job Cuts
Friend’s dismissal came as part of Microsoft’s wider workforce reductions. The company cut around 6,000 jobs in May, followed by another 9,000 in July. A company spokesperson told Business Insider that the goal was to streamline operations by reducing management layers.
Adapting To Life After Microsoft
Following the layoff, Friend received paychecks until mid-July, along with a “very comfortable” severance package nearly equivalent to his annual earnings. “It feels like a betrayal, and it impacts me financially, but it’s not going to hurt,” he said.
Instead of jumping back into the job market, he met with a financial advisor to evaluate early retirement options. Although he explored several job leads, none materialised. These days, Friend considers himself “semi-retired” and is mentoring a young entrepreneur. “It’s not about making money,” he added. “It’s about supporting somebody who wants to transform their life.”
While he and his wife can manage financially, Friend admits he isn’t entirely ready to leave the workforce. The former director said he once believed there was an implicit understanding at the company that “if you perform well, you’ll be rewarded and have job security.” Now, he no longer feels that the deal exists.