Ever wondered what it's like working for Microsoft? Leaked survey shines a light on how those at the code coalface feel
- Reference: 1618513331
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/04/15/microsoft_survey/
- Source link:
A leaked employee survey seen by [1]Business Insider gives an insight into what it is like to toil within the walls of Redmond.
[2]
Microsoft itself did not wish to comment on the poll, it being leaked and all, but the company conducts such surveys annually.
In this case nearly 132,000 out of a total of 149,000 staffers responded to the "MS Poll", and while many seemed generally happy with how things were going on the inclusion and "work group health" front, categories such as "performance" and "deal" scored 66 and 73 per cent favourable responses respectively. According to BI, "deal" appeared to include a question along the lines of "I have a good deal at Microsoft."
[3]
We're assuming "performance" does not refer to the company's products.
Microsoft is notable for paying attention to its employees nowadays. Its infamous Political Action Committee came under fire [4]back in 2019 and earlier this year [5]it suspended donations to politicians who supported attempts to overturn the 2020 US presidential election.
Sadly, its caring and sharing did not extend to deals done with some US government agencies. An open letter asking the company to stop working with the US Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agency was met with short shrift by CEO Satya Nadella, who [6]insisted Microsoft just supported legacy email and document systems. So that was OK then.
More recently, the deal done with the US military over the HoloLens headset has been met with disquiet.
We would much rather Microsoft used today to stand up for Transgender people everywhere on Transgender Day of Visibility, instead of building weapons of war. [7]https://t.co/kHZycRhpvM — Microsoft Workers 4 Good (@MsWorkers4) [8]April 1, 2021
A glance at social media does show that many of the company's [9]employees are happy to speak out on issues that some within Microsoft might find a bit troubling, indicating that things are a good deal healthier than at some of its rivals, a few of whom are helmed by characters likely to strike fear rather than turn an ear.
[10]
Unfortunately, it seems those rivals might also have better deals on offer. In a competitive marketplace, being a lovely place to work needs to be balanced by rewards for effort. ®
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[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-microsoft-poll-results-ms-poll-2021-4
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YHi3dlqT5iDMhFxER038IQAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YHi3dlqT5iDMhFxER038IQAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/24/mspac_hiatus/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/08/microsoft_political_action_committee_changes/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2018/06/20/microsoft_ceo_nadella_we_only_do_legacy_emails_for_ice/
[7] https://t.co/kHZycRhpvM
[8] https://twitter.com/MsWorkers4/status/1377487512050921474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[9] https://twitter.com/CarmenCrincoli/status/1349391760175206400
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YHi3dlqT5iDMhFxER038IQAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The beatings will continue until morale improves!
Ours not theirs. We don't give a flying fuck about them. They're just peons to be worked to death, discarded, & replaced with an even newer & lower paid slaverrrr I mean intern.
Developers!
You need someone who cares about you
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM-2OVNt-eQ
Caution: Do not leave the above video running - it's a bit long!
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM-2OVNt-eQ
I worked for MS for a number of years in a cybersecurity role (we did exist!), and to be honest they were a pretty good employer all round. The salary was about average for the time; the hours were pretty much 9-to-5, could work remotely when required, performance bonuses were generous, and the package overall was good. I did work with a few lifers who mentioned the horrors of the late stage Ballmer era, but the early Nadella period was fairly optimistic I must say.
You always feel like you're a small cog in a very big machine there, which is true I suppose.
One of the better places I've worked tbh, which I know won't go down well with the regulars around here.
I'm a new arrival, having had them recently acquire my company. Things were good before but I certainly can't complain now. I must say it felt rather awkward hearing the lady at the Tesco checkout muttering about how awful things are when my own personal situation has never been better. It's early days, of course, but I honestly have no concerns. The core day job is much the same as it ever was and while I am aware of changes in the months ahead, they are all positive ones.
It sounds like some of these complainers don't know how good they've got it. Can't please everyone, I suppose. Perhaps they've never actually worked elsewhere? When I consider the other companies that could have acquired us, I'm very glad. Imagine if it had been Oracle! I wouldn't work there if they paid me twice as much.
I wasn't able to participate in MS Poll this time around as I haven't been there long enough yet but I have had other smaller surveys sent my way, as recently as today, so they do care what you think.
what was NOT said
has anyone made any comments about the corporate culture within Micros~1?
I am pretty well convinced that even if I am perceived as being a coding genius beyond all doubt, I would NEVER be able to work there.
(Anyone who has seen my posts would probably know why)
I would be VERY interested in seeing what the political spectrum of Micros~1 employees are, how many voted for Trump in 2020, how many are registered Republicans, and so on. Was THIS (or anything related to it) in the survey? [business insider wants me to subscribe to read it, and I really didn't want to, and didn't see much else on teh intarwebs in a limited search]
I did see the mention of terms 'diversity' and 'inclusion' and things like that in other articles (including this one) but it has been my general observation that "inclusion" of political conservatives in "woke" companies may not be very "diverse". I do not know if Micros~1 is like this internally. It would be nice to know. If last year's election is any indicator, it would affect about HALF of the people in the USA.
If I am right, it would be a LOT like it is at Google... or any OTHER "big tech" mega-corporation.
related El Reg article: [1]https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/23/mspoll_2021/
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/23/mspoll_2021/
"better deals on offer"
Maybe so. But when your employer owns LinkedIn, you might tend to be careful what you say about them.