Microsoft lays off staff electronically

Microsoft waved goodbye to 1400 staff last week

Microsoft ditched traditional redundancy notices in favour of sending encoded, read-only emails when it laid off 1,400 staff last week, according to gossip web site ValleyWag.

It was reported that the unprintable notice, which used restrictions similar to those in place to prevent file-sharing, was not preceded by any line management or HR meetings to let employees know their services were no longer required.

A previous case of "cyber-firing" happened two years ago, when US electronics retailer RadioShack notified 400 employees by email that they were being laid off.

And the redundancy process seems to have found innovation via other tools – two years ago, it was reported that Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich fired coach José Mourinho via SMS.