Sign of the Times: First-Ever Microsoft Layoffs?

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) weathered rocky economies in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. But this 21st century recession could be too much for the software giant.

For the first time ever, it’s rumored Microsoft is planning layoffs – 15,000, to be exact, or 17 percent of its workforce.

Shares of the Redmond, Wash.-based company were up more than 3 percent in trading on Friday, at $20.02 in early afternoon activity.