About 45% of the growth, 18,000 positions, came in operations roles, which surpassed product research-and-development as Microsoft’s largest category of employment, according to numbers included in the company’s annual 10-K report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.A big chunk of the growth came through acquisitions, including 6,500 employees added through the company’s $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance Communications, and another 1,500 employees through the acquisition of Xandr, the former AT&T advertising technology division.I’m confident that Microsoft will emerge from this stronger and more competitive, but it requires us to take actions grounded in three priorities.As such, we are taking a $1.2B charge in Q2 related to severance costs, changes to our hardware portfolio, and the cost of lease consolidation as we create higher density across our workspaces.U.S.-benefit-eligible employees will receive a variety of benefits, including above-market severance pay, continuing healthcare coverage for six months, continued vesting of stock awards for six months, career transition services, and 60 days’ notice prior to termination, regardless of whether such notice is legally required."