The Seattle Times is reporting big changes at Microsoft as they attempt to keep their top employees and lure the best candidates. I’m surprised it took them this long to make a change given how unpopular their rating system has been for so many years. Mini and Scoble have already blogged about the changes.
I think the changes will maybe help MS keep some of their better employees. But I doubt it will keep the top college grads away from the likes of Google or Yahoo. People were willing to put in 70+ hour weeks when the stock was climbing fast but that excitement now belongs to Google.
Here are some of the changes as reported by the Times:
- Replace numerical ranking system that determined bonuses and promotions.
- Increase budget for stock awards by 15 percent.
- Enhance tuition and child-care benefits.
- Add access to dry cleaning and grocery delivery.
- Add retail food service, reportedly including Ivar’s in some cafeterias and to-go dinners sold under celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s label.
Nordquist Blog 