Rumor has it Microsoft may cut 17% of its global work force — a total of 15,000 people — in the next two weeks, claims Fudzilla.

Departments likely to be affected include MSN, and Microsoft offices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. But while "the targeted areas do make sense," a 17% cut seems unlikely, Silicon Alley Insider argued.

"There is no reason for the company to suddenly cut this much cost," Alley Insider wrote. "Microsoft's margins are still fine, and much of its revenue is generated from multi-year contracts (and is therefore unlikely to see a massive intra-quarter hit)." Significant cuts may occur in the event of a business restructuring, but even then a 17% labor subtraction rings extreme, it added.

Fudzilla did not specify why 15,000 heads might roll, but expressed optimism that the Xbox 360 departments would likely remain untouched.

The labor cut is expected to take place around January 15th, one week prior to the January 22nd release of Microsoft's Q2 earnings report.