Microsoft Denies 22,000 Layoff Rumors: Frank Shaw Slams Reports as ‘100% Made Up’
Microsoft is calling “BS” on the latest viral rumor.1 As of Thursday, January 8, 2026, the internet is buzzing with claims that 22,000 employees—about 10% of the workforce—are about to get the boot.2 The thing is, Microsoft’s Chief Communications Officer, Frank X. Shaw, didn’t just give a vague PR non-answer. He went on X and […] The post Microsoft Denies 22,000 Layoff Rumors: Frank Shaw Slams Reports as ‘100% Made Up’ first appeared on Business League.
Microsoft is calling “BS” on the latest viral rumor.1 As of Thursday, January 8, 2026, the internet is buzzing with claims that 22,000 employees—about 10% of the workforce—are about to get the boot.2
The thing is, Microsoft’s Chief Communications Officer, Frank X. Shaw, didn’t just give a vague PR non-answer. He went on X and called the reports “100 percent made up / speculative / wrong.” He even told skeptics he “eagerly awaits” the news that he insists doesn’t exist.3 Or nothing. Let’s be real, when the CCO is that blunt, either the rumor is total fiction or someone is about to have a very awkward Monday. Those too.
Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1
The “Layoff Rumor” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where past trauma (the 15,000+ cuts in 2025) is making every anonymous post feel like a prophecy.
-
The Spark: Reports from sites like TipRanks and HR Digest suggested the “third week of January” was the target.4 They claimed Azure, Xbox, and Sales were the bullseye.5
-
The “Why”: The rumor-mill says Microsoft needs to free up cash for its 80 billion AI infrastructure splurge.6 Basically, “less humans, more GPUs.”
-
The Reality Check: While the company did lay off 9,000 people in July 2025, they also hit a 4 trillion market cap last year.7 They aren’t broke; they’re just obsessed with “agility.”
-
The “Kicker”: Sources at Windows Central had already flagged the rumors as “false on the Xbox side” before Shaw officially nuked the whole thing.8
Microsoft’s Workforce Rollercoaster
Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1
[Table: The Layoff Timeline (Confirmed vs. Rumored)]
| Date | Status | Number of Jobs | Key Reason Cited |
| Jan 2024 | Confirmed | 1,900 | Activision-Blizzard integration. |
| May 2025 | Confirmed | 6,000 | “Organizational alignment.” |
| July 2025 | Confirmed | 9,000 | New fiscal year “restructuring.” |
| Jan 2026 | DENIED | 22,000 | “100% Made Up” per Microsoft. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
Even though the 22,000 number is likely fake, the “vibe” at Redmond is still tense. Why? Because Microsoft is enforcing a stricter 3-day RTO (Return to Office) policy starting February 23, 2026.9
The thing is, many employees see strict RTO as a “soft layoff”—a way to get people to quit so the company doesn’t have to pay severance.10 So while Frank Shaw is busy cutting down misinformation, the employees are busy updating their LinkedIn profiles just in case. It’s a messy, high-anxiety start to the year for the tech giant.
End…
The post Microsoft Denies 22,000 Layoff Rumors: Frank Shaw Slams Reports as ‘100% Made Up’ first appeared on Business League.
What's Your Reaction?
