According to The records of Layoffs, Microsoft has fired more than 6,000 employees as of 2025. One of those employees was Freddy Kristiansen, 59, who was let go from the Microsoft subsidiary in Denmark in May 2025 after a 23-year career as a product manager.
However, although he is no longer officially part of the company, Kristiansen continues to go to the office. “It may sound strange to show up after being fired, but I still feel committed to the products, to the people who use them, and to my colleagues,” he explained in an interview with Business Insider.
A Link That Goes Beyond the Contract
His journey began in 2002 when he was hired by Navision, a company that was shortly after acquired by Microsoft. What he thought would be a temporary position turned into a fulfilling career that spanned over two decades. “I thought: ‘Maybe this can be something in the long term.’ And it truly was,” Kristiansen recalled.
Although Danish law grants him a period of six months and three months of compensation after dismissal for being an employee with over nine years of experience, Kristiansen states that his motivation to continue attending the office is not financial.
Microsoft relieved him of all his functions, but due to Danish legislation, he remains an employee of Microsoft until November. Instead of focusing on finding a new job—what the time is designed for—he continues to show up at the office daily.
His last significant project was a tool for GitHub. “I feel a responsibility not only to maintain the product, but also to reassure customers that they are in good hands,” he emphasized. “If you need my help, I will answer questions, share advice, or whatever is necessary. There’s no reason to stop doing that,” he added.
Actually, They Have Done a Favor
Kristiansen’s reaction to continuing at the company may be surprising, especially since many would expect a negative sentiment after being laid off. However, Kristiansen’s dismissal came at a time when he had already begun considering new personal and professional challenges. “I thought I might feel angry, but it really was a relief,” he confessed.
While some of his peers expressed concern about Kristiansen’s future, he viewed his situation as an opportunity to slow down after two decades of relentless work. Notably, during the layoffs of 2023, the veteran employee consulted anonymously about the possibility of applying for voluntary resignation but ultimately did not pursue it.
“I have worked extremely hard in the last decade, putting in many hours. But now, I’m not interested in working 60 hours a week. It seemed like the appropriate time to finally pursue my long-postponed dream of working on my own terms,” he stated.
In an article published on his personal blog, Kristiansen shares that he is focusing on developing his own business plan, offering consulting services as a CTO, managing projects, and delivering motivational talks while enjoying more free time and adopting healthier habits. “From these layoffs, I reiterate that there’s no evil that doesn’t bring some good,” he remarked.
Respect for the Fruit of His Work
Despite the change in his employment status, Kristiansen continues to attend the office for meetings with Al-G users and to organize sessions with his team, where he shares invaluable insights from his career.
“No one forced me to work 20 hours on weekends or strive so hard, but I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do. I genuinely felt a connection with our partners, our clients, and my colleagues. And, honestly, that connection remains strong,” the former employee stated.
His involvement with customers, colleagues, and products remains so robust that, even as his contract nears its end, his respect for what he built during his years at Microsoft remains unshaken. At least until November, when he will have to return his corporate laptop and ID badge.
Image credit: LinkedIn, Unsplash (Sam Torres, Valent Lau)