Finnish Government Criticizes Microsoft For Job Cuts, 'Broken Promises' (softpedia.com)

jones_supa writes: Softpedia reports: "Microsoft has recently announced a new round of job layoffs at its Mobile unit in Finland, as it moves forward with its restructuring and reorganization plan following the acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services unit. The Finnish government has criticized Microsoft for turning to more job cuts in the country, pointing out that the company has a huge responsibility to help those who are being let go. Microsoft's latest job cut round included 1,850 people, 1,350 of which are said to be working in Finland. 'I am disappointed because of the (initial) promises made by Microsoft,' Finance Minister Alexander Stubb was quoted as saying by Reuters. 'One example is that the data center did not materialize despite the company's promise.'" He refers to Microsoft's promise in 2013 to invest $250 million in a data center located in Finland that was specifically meant to provide services to European customers. All of these worries are not unfounded as the employment situation in Finland is still quite terrible, and the decline of Nokia's former phone business certainly exacerbates the situation.

Comments

Eh?

[Anonymous Coward]

So, it's Microsoft's job to make busy work for these people instead of letting them go?

Re:Eh?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yup, it's not the USA.

Re:Eh?

[peragrin]

No it is microsofts job not to lie to their employees and governments. If you promise something you should do it.

Nokia was a great company until Microsoft tried to install Windows and it finally broke nokias phones.

Re:Eh?

[ShanghaiBill]

If you promise something you should do it.

When you deal with businesses, promises mean nothing unless they are contractual obligations. If they have it in writing, then they should take Microsoft to court. If they don't have it in writing, then they learned a valuable lesson, and maybe next time they will be smarter.

Re:Eh?

[cyber-vandal]

It started falling like a rock when Microsoft stooge Stephen Elop joined as CEO in 2010. It had its problems before then but Elop destroyed the company with a series of poor decisions, allowing Microsoft to buy it for a fraction of what it was worth in 2008. Maemo and its successors might have rejuvenated the company, or Nokia could've been making Android handsets by now but instead the brand was tied to the huge dead weight of Windows Phone and was dragged to its doom as a result. It's sad because Nokia phones were huge in Europe and Microsoft has decided to squander all that goodwill and has put a lot of talented people out of work for a platform that seems to be doomed.

Re:Eh?

[pete6677]

A verbal agreement is only worth the paper it's printed on.

Re: Eh?

[sjames]

That used to be part of the social contract in the U.S. As long as you did your job, the job was yours. When you retired, you got a pension.

Now, corporations expect the same loyalty but offer none in return.

Same old MS

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course it doesn't end well for you guys. It never does. You really can't be surprised by their ethics at this point. Now bend over while we force-install this mobile OS on your desktop!

Corporate lies...

[Daemonik]

When will politicians stop believing corporate promises (lies)?? Corporations are only in it for themselves, they have zero concern for the communities they are present in.

Giving corporations sweetheart deals for promises of jobs or investment is the worst possible use of public money. It's corporate welfare, except these welfare recipients are spending the check on hookers and blow.

Re:Corporate lies...

[hcs_$reboot]

When will politicians stop believing corporate promises (lies)

Maybe when politicians will stop making false promises (lies)? Why would politicians strongly condemn something they're doing all the time...

Re:Corporate lies...

[Bonobo_Unknown]

While corporate hate is hip right now I am sure that Microsoft would have preferred that their Nokia venture worked rather than flopping so hard, so given that they gave it a good shot and it didn't work what else does Microsoft owe Finland? Perhaps the Finnish shouldn't have sold Nokia in the first place.