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Microsoft is laying off approximately 6,000 employees, around 3% of its global workforce, as CNBC reports, marking the latest round of job cuts as the company continues to realign its business priorities. The move will affect workers across various teams and regions, though the company did not disclose specific departments or locations. A Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC that the layoffs are part of organizational and workforce adjustments “to reduce layers of management” and not related to job performance. The spokesperson further stated, “We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.” Microsoft, which employed 228,000 people worldwide as of June last year, has conducted several rounds of layoffs in recent years. In 2023, the company cut 10,000 positions, according to CNBC . In 2024, Microsoft also laid off nearly 2,000 employees from its gaming division just months after a $69 million gaming...
Starbucks is at the center of a lawsuit for alleged discrimination related to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies . On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, filed a lawsuit claiming that the Seattle, WA-based coffee chain enforces “race-and-sex-based hiring practices” and unlawfully segregates employees in violation of anti-discrimination laws, according to a news release. Since taking office for a second term on Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders to dismantle federal DEI initiatives. “As Attorney General, I have a responsibility to protect Missourians from a company that actively engages in systemic race and sex discrimination,” Bailey said. “Racism has no place in Missouri. We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.” Bailey said the initiatives have led to a “more female and less white” workforce and forced Missouri consumers to “pay...
If the workforce were a playlist, 2025 would give “Renaissance” by Beyoncé — a vibe shift, a reset, and a clear signal that the world of work is hitting some new high notes. The game is changing, and whether it’s artificial intelligence (AI) running point, the return of curated travel experiences, or frontline roles making a comeback, one thing is clear: opportunities are out here, but they won’t fall into your lap. For Black professionals, the stakes are high. Job competition is fierce, with 2.5 applicants per role compared to 1.5 in 2022. Confidence is shaky, and hiring managers ghost candidates like they forgot the assignment. However, according to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2025 report , nearly 60% of these roles are fresh on the scene, signaling change and opportunity. “Fields like AI, experiential industries, and frontline jobs are booming, offering fresh opportunities to break into spaces where we’ve historically been underrepresented,” says Andrew McCaskill. AI: The...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. A few weeks ago, a debate surrounding the possible expansion of H-1B visas erupted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Established under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the H-1B visa program is for employers to hire nonimmigrant workers in specialty roles or other roles of distinguished merit or ability. The occupation could refer to nurses, models, and tech workers. The number of workers working in the United States on a H-1B visa has steadily increased over the past decade. Companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple rely on the program to stay ahead in their competitive market. Last year, Elon Musk’s Telsa emerged as one of the leading companies with H-1B visa workers. This is no surprise, as Musk has supported the program. Sharing his support for the program online drew the ire of strongholds within the MAGA coalition like Laura Loomer, who wants the program to end....
As new technologies emerge and transform industries, it becomes crucial for businesses to understand how to successfully introduce these innovations into their workforce. The process of adopting new technologies is not instantaneous, and employees often move through several stages before fully embracing a new tool or system. Understanding these stages can help organizations manage the transition and maximize the effectiveness of new technology. Understanding the Adoption Curve The adoption of new technologies within the workforce follows a predictable curve that reflects how individuals and groups respond to change. This curve is generally divided into several key stages, each representing a different level of acceptance and integration. These stages, based on the Diffusion of Innovations theory developed by Everett Rogers, help businesses understand the challenges and opportunities at each point of the adoption process. Understanding Early Adopter Categories When introducing new...
As of late October, Boeing’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department has ceased to exist. Bloomberg reported , citing sources familiar with the matter, that the aerospace company shuttered its DEI team , integrating employees into a human resources group that will focus on talent management and enhancing the employee experience. Sara Liang Bowen, the former vice president of the DEI department, announced her exit via LinkedIn on Oct. 31 after more than five years, but she did not specify whether the closure was the reason. She said it had been the “privilege of my lifetime” to lead the company’s DEI efforts. “Our team strived every day to support the evolving brilliance and creativity of our workforce. The team achieved so much – sometimes imperfectly, never easily – and dreamed of doing much more still,” Bowen wrote. “All of it has been worth it. Because behind every effort there has been a person: An unheard voice, an idea waiting to bloom,” she added. “The people...
Power company Entergy has announced a new multi-million commitment to advance Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to a news release, Entergy plans to deploy $20 million to HBCUs over 10 years. The funding will impact students in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and is intended to support them through education, academic scholarships, career readiness, internships, and workforce development programs. Specific plans include $5,000 in scholarships granted to 20 “high-achieving” students over the next 10 years and an annual grant program to support facility improvements, research, and endowments across HBCUs located in the states where Entergy provides service. HBCU students will also have access to employment opportunities, including 10 internships each year and college recruitment events. “With roots in our service area for more than 100 years, what matters to our neighbors and our communities matters to us,” said Drew Marsh, Entergy’s chair and...
Have you ever received a gift that you did not want? Like it was just all-around bad? Well, that’s many people’s sentiment about this current job market. It’s dishing out notices no one wants to hear, such as layoffs and downsizing. And BuzzFeed is the latest to announce changes in its workforce.
Chris Brown said, “These girls ain’t loyal,” but who would have thought that reference would be true for banking institutions? Now, it is no real shocker that large banks often act in the best interest of their own bottom line, but the most recent discovery about Bank of America may cause some to clutch their pearls. In an alleged internal memo obtained by The Intercept, Bank of America seems to have some odd “hopes.”
The future of STEM is underway thanks to a new initiative led by IBM, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Specialisterne Foundation, and six different Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs). According to a press release, the group will now provide no-cost STEM job training to the U.S. military as well as neurodivergent learners across the world and students that make up communities that are underrepresented throughout the nation. “We believe that the most promising job candidates for today’s demanding careers will come from communities that may have been historically overlooked or excluded due to outdated hiring policies and old-fashioned credentialling,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG in an official statement shared with AfroTech. “That’s why we’re uniting the public, private, and not-for-sector sectors to cultivate STEM talent from underrepresented communities to address the world’s most critical...
There’s a growing trend in the workplace — one that is distressing to professional women, as a whole. In fact, the growing trend of women disappearing from the modern workforce in the wake of COVID-19 has led to a new term to describe the trend: she-cession . According to the National Women’s Law Center, women have lost 5.4 million jobs since the pandemic began and women participating in the labor force is at its lowest since 1988. Black women and Latinas had higher rates of unemployment before the pandemic; in February 2020, 2.8 percent of white women were unemployed, compared with nearly five percent of Latinas and Black women. In December, those rates nearly doubled, with Black women being twice as likely to be the breadwinner of their families compared to white women. And this she-cession is also one that’s confirmed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which confirms that companies that have more than 51% Black and/or POC ownership were “hardest hit” by the pandemic, too. But it...
Genesys Works, a national workforce development program that focuses on connecting underserved students with paid internship opportunities, has announced the appointment of a new CEO. In a press release, the company said Jeffrey Artis — who first joined the company as a business development coordinator — is now the new CEO. “Jeff’s knowledge of the workforce development community along with his business acumen aligns well with the Genesys Works mission,” said Tom Fry, Genesys Works National Board member, in a statement in the press release. “As we look to the future, we’re confident that Jeff is the right person to lead Genesys Works into the next stage of growth and impact.” For his part, Artis has spent most of his career leading workforce development solutions for Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. He also said that he benefitted from a similar program offered by Genesys Works in his own career, so he felt that this was a great way to give back. “In my teens, I benefited...
Workforce development is a sector across all industries that contributes to America’s economic superpower to create jobs rapidly. In an effort to maintain that reputation, the U.S. Department of Labor has officially approved Black-led tech startup ChargerHelp! — the first and only on-demand repair app for electric vehicle charging stations founded by LA natives Kameale C. Terry and Evette Ellis — for an O-NET Code. According to a press release, this code is the official identification for occupational information used by students, job seekers, and businesses. Thus, ChargerHelp! now has the ability to create more job opportunities for certified technicians. “The validation and value the U.S. Department of Labor’s O-net code brings to any industry and workforce development is extremely vital,” said Ellis — co-founder and Chief Workforce Officer — in a statement. “We are honored to have lead the way and laid the foundation for our technicians to be nationally recognized by name and...
Netflix is about that action when it comes to providing the resources necessary to promote diversity. The streaming giant just announced their first-ever Netflix Virtual HBCU Boot Camp, a program designed for students and recent alumni of Norfolk State University. To make this happen, Netflix is joining forces with leading education technology company, 2U , who has a proven track record for invigorating hundreds of high-quality boot camps and online programs for colleges and universities. Launching in January, the 16-week program is open for up to 130 students with a focus on three program tracks — UX/UI Design, Data Science, and Java Engineering. Students who are accepted will immediately be eligible to receive a Netflix scholarship to cover the entire cost of attendance. At the end of the boot camp, not only will participants receive course credit, but they will also walk away equipped with industry-relevant skills. All courses will be led by Norfolk State University faculty...