Other major U.S. tech firms, such as Meta, have already announced layoffs this year; this market asks whether Microsoft will also announce a large layoff event within the specified timeframe.

Resolves YES if:

• Microsoft publicly announces layoffs affecting 5,000 or more employees, and

• The announcement occurs on or before January 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET, and

• The announcement is confirmed by at least one major, credible source (e.g., Microsoft press release, SEC filing, or reporting by Reuters, AP, Bloomberg)

Resolves NO if:

• No such announcement occurs by the deadline.

Clarifications:

• Single event or linked plan: Multiple rounds of layoffs may be counted together only if Microsoft or primary reporting explicitly states they are part of the same restructuring plan.

• Global headcount counts: Layoffs may include U.S. and non-U.S. employees.

• Contractors excluded: Contractors are excluded unless explicitly included in the reported layoff figure.

• Rumors and leaks excluded: Speculation, internal memos without confirmation, or anonymous sourcing alone do not count.