Will Microsoft hold my job?
Will Microsoft hold my job?
In a word, no. I do not work FOR Microsoft, I only work AT Microsoft. I am a contractor and we are considered expendable. There was a lawsuit about that issue many years ago called the "permatemp" case. After the case was settled, it took at least 10 years for anyone to receive any compensation. (Yes I will admit that my name was in the pool) After all Microsoft had already sent the money out, if I did not put my name in, other people would just get more, that would be the only difference at that point.
I belive that the mindset that Microsoft has (And I think it has actual legitimate value) is that you know what you are getting to, "Do not ask for one thing now, and ask for more after your position is completed". That really is what the suit was about. Some people got irritated that they were being treated the same way as Microsoft employees, however they were not getting medical, 401k, or any other benefits.
Now I personally agree whith this philosophy to a point. Once you have worked under these conditions for over a year, the comapny needs to decide if you are worythy of "full time perm" or not. Not just running the circle over and over by making you take a 100 day break and hiring you again for 365, then another 100 day break as it is today. (That is what is called a contractor today) They did not have that hiring restriction many years ago.
I am working in a role that is called a "Vendor". I have exactly the same setup as 5 years ago before the permatemp situation. My feeling is that I will never be permanantly hired and If I want to work there it will only be through contracting agencies. I personally really like working at Microsoft. The challenges are great, and the work is cutting edge. Since I test rather than write code, I definitly feel my skillset has value there!
