Microsoft reviews

I've worked in some pretty politically charged places before but Microsoft beats 'em all. I was really taken in by all the wonderful talk and presentations about equality, fairness, and focus on employee development. I certainly have been more than disappointed in what I've observed since starting at Microsoft. The MYCD and performance reviews have been mostly focused on what management wants and precious little about what I might want to develop and contribute. Their goals change daily and, conveniently, those goals are not clearly articulated until it comes time to point out that you've failed to meet them. I've watched several very questionable promotions made that I'm convinced are based on favoritism and previous agreements, not on ability to manage or lead. I have endured endless micromanagement, insulting condescension, and outright aggressive opposition in my daily work. Microsoft is extremely top-heavy with unnecessary layers of management. I'm amazed that any product EVER gets out the door. In fact, that anything gets done at all. There seem to be more meetings than there are hours in the day. Many of us at the bottom of the ladder would love to actually be able to perform as the team we're so often admonished to be but it's impossible to function as a team when we're pushed in so many directions with differing goals. I have come to the conclusion that working here is a nice start to my resume but definitely not a place to build a career. I think I could forget any career if I stayed here. And, HR? Don't bother asking for any assistance from them. They're too busy protecting the spoiled, power-hungry management. Speak up and YOU become the liability.

Microsoft is the most political and back stabbing environment I've ever worked in my 15+ years of experience. Promotions are based on personal relationships and game playing, not results, no matter what HR or the promo lit says. Workplace bullying is so rampant that its baked into the culture and considered "normal". Work/life balance is consistently terrible. Management is sub-par compared to other software companies, most managers get promoted based on politics rather than true leadership. If you're a person with ethics, expect to be asked to put your values aside in the name of playing the political game. HR supports management only, and turns a blind eye to all, even when employees ask/plead for help. In most cases, HR joins in the mobbing against employees when issues are brought to their attention. Evaluations are based on relationships, politics and favoritism rather than performance. There are a lot of nice words that HR publishes about performance based job evaluations, don't believe it, in Microsoft there are the nice HR words, and then there's the reality of day to day Microsoft work culture. Microsoft as a whole is too big and over stretched in too many areas, with the result being a lack of long term vision and focus. There is very little innovation and creativity to be found, Microsoft culture rewards competition against coworkers, conformity and process. Microsoft is still much too in love with its self to focus on customers, and the changing business environment, and frequently gets caught flat footed from a technological and marketing perspective.