Microsoft fires two more employees who occupied exec's office

Microsoft has fired two employees who were arrested during a sit-in protest that occupied the office of company president Brad Smith. The employees were part of the "No Azure for Apartheid" movement protesting Microsoft's cloud computing contracts with the Israeli military.

This is the latest escalation in a months-long conflict between Microsoft management and employees opposed to the company's work supporting Israel's military operations in Gaza. The firings happened Wednesday, August 28, 2025, after the two employees occupied Smith's office for several hours before being arrested by security.

The protest details

According to sources inside Microsoft, the two fired employees - identified as organizers of the No Azure for Apartheid group - entered Smith's office during business hours and refused to leave. They used bullhorns and displayed banners reading "No Azure for Apartheid" and "Microsoft: Stop Enabling Genocide."

The occupation lasted approximately four hours before Microsoft security called local police. Both employees were arrested on trespassing charges and escorted from the Redmond campus. Microsoft confirmed their termination the following day.

A pattern of escalation

This isn't an isolated incident. Microsoft has now fired multiple employees related to these protests:

• May 2025: One employee fired for interrupting CEO Satya Nadella's speech
• April 2025: Two employees fired for disrupting the company's 50th anniversary celebration
• August 2025: These two latest firings bring the total to at least five

The Microsoft firings signal a hardening stance by tech companies toward employee activism. While Google and Amazon have also faced internal protests over defense contracts, Microsoft appears to be taking the most aggressive approach to shutting down dissent.

Inside sources report tensions

Engineers I know there say Slack channels have gotten awkward as hell since this went down. Some teams are split between employees who support the protests and those who think breaking into your boss's office is definitely not covered in the employee handbook, turns out.

One Microsoft engineer told me, "People are scared to even mention Gaza in team meetings now. The company's basically drawing a line in the sand - you can have opinions, but if you act on them in ways that disrupt business, you're gone."

The broader tech worker movement

Microsoft's crackdown comes as tech worker activism reaches a boiling point across Silicon Valley. Employees at Google, Amazon, and Meta have also organized protests over AI weapons development, surveillance contracts, and military partnerships.

But Microsoft's response has been notably more aggressive than its peers. While other companies have largely ignored protests or offered dialogue, Microsoft is actively terminating employees who cross certain lines.

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform has contracts worth millions with the Israeli Defense Forces, providing infrastructure for military operations. The "No Azure for Apartheid" protesters want these contracts terminated, arguing that Microsoft's technology enables human rights violations in Gaza.

From Microsoft's perspective, these are legitimate government contracts that follow U.S. foreign policy. The company has stated it provides technology to "democratically elected governments" and follows all applicable laws and regulations.

What the internal battle looks like:

The protest movement inside Microsoft has grown significantly since October 2023. Internal Slack channels dedicated to the cause reportedly have hundreds of members, and the group has organized multiple actions:

• Work stoppages during company meetings
• Internal petitions signed by thousands of employees
• Disruptions of executive presentations
• The recent office occupation that led to arrests

Microsoft's response has escalated with each incident. Initially, the company tried to address concerns through internal dialogue and town halls. When protests became more disruptive, they moved to disciplinary actions and now terminations.

The legal and business implications:

Employment lawyers say Microsoft is within its rights to fire employees for disruptive behavior, regardless of the underlying political message. Occupying an executive's office and using bullhorns during work hours clearly violates company policies.

But the firings also create legal exposure. Wrongful termination lawsuits are likely, especially if Microsoft can't prove consistent enforcement of policies. If similar disruptions by employees supporting other causes weren't met with firing, the company could face discrimination claims.

Industry impact:

Microsoft's hardline approach is being watched closely by other tech companies dealing with similar employee activism. The question is whether aggressive enforcement stops protests or escalates them.

Early signs suggest it's not working as intended. The latest firings have sparked more internal organizing, with reports of additional protest actions planned. Some Microsoft employees have started organizing support funds for fired colleagues and legal defense funds.

The talent retention problem:

Tech companies compete intensely for engineering talent, and political stances increasingly factor into job decisions. Microsoft risks losing skilled employees who disagree with both the Israeli contracts and the company's response to internal dissent.

One former Microsoft engineer who left after the earlier firings told me, "I couldn't keep working for a company that fires people for having a conscience. There are plenty of other places that pay just as well and don't have blood on their hands."

The challenge for Microsoft is that taking any position alienates someone. Continuing the contracts angers employees opposed to Israeli military actions. Canceling them would anger employees (and shareholders) who support U.S. allies and lucrative government business.