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Patrice Melekian wanted to experience life in the US, and his job at Microsoft was his ticket.
He told Business Insider he had a good, 17-year run with the company — until he got laid off from his manager job in May. He’s returned to his home country of France, and while he’s still figuring out his next career move, he said he might look outside management for his next role.
Like many laid-off workers, Melekian doesn’t know exactly why his job was cut. But he said Microsoft leaders have spoken about reducing management layers and improving efficiency — language that has coincided with manager layoffs over the past year. Melekian believes these efforts are part of a broader trend in tech.
“Many companies in the tech industry, including Microsoft, have been moving to flatten their organizations to streamline the decision process,” said the 54-year-old.
In May, Microsoft laid off roughly 6,000 employees in an effort to increase what it calls “span of control” — or the number of employees who report to each manager, Business Insider previously reported. Then, earlier this month, the company laid off roughly 9,000 more workers. A spokesperson told BI earlier this month that the company was focused on reducing management layers and streamlining processes.
It’s not just Microsoft. Companies like Google, Intel, Amazon, and Walmart have announced plans to reduce the number of managers. This trend, which some have dubbed the “Great Flattening,” refGreat Flatteningpush to reduce costs and bureaucracy — moves some corporate executives say will make their organizations more efficient.
Microsoft did not respond to BI’s request for comment.
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Having fewer reports left more time for other work tasks
Melekian joined Microsoft in 2007 through an acquisition, taking on a role as a program manager architect. He grew up in France and was living in Paris at the time, but became interested in moving to the US — partly out of curiosity about what it would be like to live there.
In 2013, he relocated with his wife and two sons from Paris to Redmond, Washington — home to Microsoft’s headquarters — to take a senior program manager role. At the time of his layoff, he was a principal product manager, leading a team of three.
While Microsoft’s effort to reduce management layers could leave some managers with more direct reports, Melekian said the number of people reporting to him hovered between two and three, depending on business needs — a structure he thinks worked well for his team.
He said his role, which required balancing management responsibilities with hands-on project work, didn’t change much during his three years as a principal product manager. Having a modest team size gave him the flexibility to spend more time on projects — something he appreciated.
“When you have a team of three, you don’t have to spend that much time managing,” he said. “If a new opportunity came up and everybody was packed, that allowed me to jump in, take some of my own time, and go after it myself.”
Melekian said he started his principal product manager role during the pandemic, when remote work was widespread at the company. When Microsoft’s offices reopened, he had the option to continue working from home and chose to do so. Microsoft’s policy currently allows most employees to work remotely at least part of the time, though a decline in productivity could prompt a shift in policy, BI previously reported.
His next role might not be in management
Though a layoff is rarely happy news, Melekian said the timing was relatively fortunate: He had already been planning to move back to France for personal and family reasons. With his parents getting older, he wanted to be closer in case they needed support. His youngest son also just graduated from high school and plans to attend school in France this fall.
“With our children and our own aging parents all being in France, there was nothing holding my wife and me back in the US,” he said.
Melekian said he’s already sold his home in the US and returned to France, but hasn’t started actively job hunting yet. He plans to do so later this summer once he’s more settled.
When his job search picks up, he’s not sure whether he’ll prioritize management roles or individual contributor positions. He said he may prefer a role with less managerial responsibility — one where he can have a more direct impact.
“Manager roles certainly align with my experience, but I may also consider roles where I can contribute directly with my expertise,” he said.
Melekian said he has a few pieces of advice for people who are dealing with layoffs or career transitions. First, rely on others for advice and support.
“You’d be surprised how willing people are to share their own similar experiences and help you navigate transitions,” he said.
Additionally, he recommended people keep an open mind to different job opportunities — and not rush their next career decision.
“A layoff can feel like a personal failure, but it’s usually the result of a broader business shift rather than an indication of your worth as a professional,” he said. “Use the pause as an opportunity to reassess what’s genuinely important for you personally and professionally.”
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