Microsoft Outage Disrupts Media and Corporate America, Sending Workers Home Early

Microsoft suffered a global outage on Thursday, disrupting Outlook, Teams, and other services, causing widespread work stoppages and prompting employees across the media industry and corporate America to leave early. The outage halted email, chat, and document tools, forcing offices to shift communication to Slack and text chains. Newsrooms continued operations but faced significant disruption, while transit systems reported unusually crowded trains as workers headed home. The full impact remains unclear, with experts warning of massive email backlogs once services are restored. The incident highlights the internet's critical role as a backbone for media and the broader economy, raising concerns about recovery on Friday.