After spending two decades at Microsoft, 62-year-old Joe Friend never imagined his career would end with a sudden layoff. But in May 2025, the veteran manager was abruptly let go — a decision that shocked him and forced him to rethink his retirement plans.

“It feels like a betrayal,” Joe told Business Insider. “I wasn’t surprised by the layoffs, but I was surprised to get caught up in them.”

Joe, who worked as Director of Product Management, had nine people reporting to him and a strong performance record.

Even when he heard rumors of layoffs, he felt confident about his job. But when the cuts came, 15 people from his department, including four managers, were let go.

Retirement Plans Shattered

Joe had planned to work until 65 so that his unvested stock would continue to vest after ret

See Full Page