India, June 3 -- A peaceful vacation on Myrtle Beach turned into a life-altering moment for a tech professional after he received a layoff email from Microsoft, where he worked until recently. The message came with the subject line: "Business Critical Update: Please Prioritize." Within four hours, he was unemployed.

"Microsoft was my endgame," he wrote in a candid LinkedIn post that has since resonated with thousands. "The sheer talent, impact, and brilliance of the people I worked alongside shaped who I am today. For that, I'm incredibly grateful."

The former Microsoft employee, who was dining with his wife and 2-year-old daughter Millie when he received the email, described the moment as a turning point. While the layoff was abrupt, i...