The good:
MS recently overhauled its performance-review process, increased stock awards, boosted on-campus perks and addressed a wide range of additional concerns.
The plan, dubbed "myMicrosoft," in my opinion improved training for managers, clarified internal career paths and increased child care and tuition benefits.
Also, as a MS employee you will enjoy new services on the Redmond campus, which will include dry-cleaning, convenience stores, grocery delivery and upgraded dining options -- such as Wolfgang Puck takeout.
They even revived the laundered towel service used by employees who shower at work after playing sports and commuting by bike.
The bad:
MS is the premiere propaganda machine. The bad things that people said below are true, especially the fake "mission/values", which you should wear on your body at all times (around your neck, eg).
The HR organization is dominated by two buds who have been there WAY too long. When MS was laying off (sorry: REDEPLOYING), these two maintained their two-in-a-box status: two people doing the job of one, while others were let go.
HR is also mostly female. At one point, 70% (may be higher now). Guys: be passive, be team players; otherwise, you will be labeled difficult to work with and passed over for promotions and higher-than-average year-end raises.
Research the stock price of MS over the last few years, and you'll see. While MS was laying off thousands of employees in 06 and the stock price was plummeting, he raked in nearly 10 mil compensation (see AFL-CIO corporate watch website).
MS relentlessly talks of globalization, outsourcing, diversity (code for cheap labor), global economy: corporate INVENTIONS, which MS helped hatch. While it professes to be fair and honest, it is busily setting up shop in Communist China known for human rights violations.
You have no job security there: it's about who's not what you know. At 50, watch out: you will be targeted for "job force reductions". MS wants young and/or foreign workers:. CHEAP help. How many people have retired from MS? Ask to see their records.
Label me disgruntled all you want. I know this company, and I know what they did to a lot of good people.
