Microsoft internal employee survey: There is a reasonable balance between what …

Microsoft is seeing an improvement in employee sentiments. According to an internal survey, a higher percentage of the tech giant’s workforce now reports that they feel they are getting a "good deal" at the company. In the latest Microsoft employee survey, conducted in October 2024, 65% of respondents agreed with the statement: "There is a reasonable balance between what I contribute to Microsoft and what I get in return." Microsoft uses this specific survey question to gauge employee sentiment concerning work-life balance and compensation.

According to a report by Business Insider, a Microsoft spokesperson said that the latest results of the survey represent a 3% rise compared to the survey taken six months earlier. Survey results from last summer had shown a decrease in positive responses to this above mentioned survey question, dropping from 69% to 62% year-over-year. The results of the survey highlight the significance of the recent positive shift in employee morale.

In 2022, a declining score on this question prompted Microsoft to raise pay to address concerns about compensation and to reduce employee departures to competitors like Amazon, the report adds.
Since then, the tech industry has experienced notable changes. Tech stocks fell during 2022 as the pandemic boom ended, leading many companies to focus on improving efficiency, with investors prioritising profitability over continual growth.
Additionally, new AI tools may also be reducing demand for some tech roles. In 2023, Microsoft implemented a salary freeze. The next survey, scheduled for April, follows Microsoft's decision to lay off about 2,000 employees identified as underperformers, the report notes.
As per the report, the company is also updating its performance review process, reflecting a shift toward a stricter approach to employee management after years of relatively lenient treatment.