tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post7404332704119869123..comments2024-03-29T04:53:26.072-07:00Comments on Mini-Microsoft: Microsoft Health Care Pops a Cap in One Big WeekWho da'Punkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18205453956191063442noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-37476910567241991662010-12-11T07:09:29.387-08:002010-12-11T07:09:29.387-08:00Hi, I'm a L65 and was told I would be getting ...Hi, I'm a L65 and was told I would be getting a Gold Star. Anyoen know how much it will be? I got one as a L64 last year ($30k of stock) but, was told it would be higher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-24490985164918175252010-10-28T05:14:19.012-07:002010-10-28T05:14:19.012-07:006. ...Who has told the truth lately to anyone abov...6. ...Who has told the truth lately to anyone above them? ...<br /><br />I did, I talked openly with my manager and his previous managers. No one wanted to know. They all exhibited ostrich syndrome. All the issues were right in front of their noses but they chose to ignore them and instead retaliate against me for daring to speak the truth or highlight the teams/their inadequacies. <br /><br />My last day in Microsoft was 4 weeks ago, I didnt leave by my own free will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-87302724128720581532010-10-27T11:28:30.861-07:002010-10-27T11:28:30.861-07:001. Get rid of all the Walmart people. All of the...1. Get rid of all the Walmart people. All of them. Especially KT, but all of his little minions as well. Just like all of us who didn't believe when we were force-fed the business school teachings during the "take everything from Japanese corporate culture and slam it over the top of US culture" era, you can't effectively use some short-term set of solutions that "worked" somewhere else and force them over an entirely different corporation and it's processes. It just doesn't work. Cheap retail big-box is not the same as trying to make the best software for the future. Shouldn't even be a surprise, or a consideration.<br /><br />2. If you have fewer employees, but really good ones, you can pay for great medical plans, free/reduced price food during all hours they work, and keep the free pop flowing. With fewer people, they all get good space to work. You don't need to build more buildings to house the lesser beings. The idea of compensation (salary/bonus/benefits/stock) is to make them want to come to work. Stock is supposed to be a retention feature of the compensation plan, to convince them to stay instead of go work for someone else. Not having to worry about your medical bills, or leaving campus to get food, these sorts of things are supposed to free you to do great work.<br /><br />3. Hire the right people, treat them well, keep bringing in new blood and repeat the first steps, and that could just be the ticket to success. <br /><br />4. If you need to oh-so-badly save money, cut the stock grants of executives. Cut their cash bonuses. I like the idea of returning all compensation beyond salary for exec types to stock options instead of grants.<br /><br />5. Get rid of the subset of the marketing people, those who are all slick and smoke-and-mirrors, and focus on doing great work. Not just selling the great work to the masses, but creating the great stuff.<br /><br />6. Who in the SLT is willing to drop to Steve Jobs' $1 a year salary? Who has told the truth lately to anyone above them? Who has actually looked at a problem from all angles recently, and then sat down to competently solve it? Lots of things can be done better, particularly if you give up managing your manager.<br /><br />7. Get rid of the climate of fear. If people do their work, give them their bonuses. I came from another tech company where the bonus % was given to everyone who did their work. If you did great work, you could earn an accelerator of like 25% to 100% of your bonus. But it was expected that if you had been hired that you were acually good, you did your work well, and you got your bonus annually. We all worked hard, and sometimes we got some big loot. Plus stock bonuses, designed to keep us there and not walk away. Hire the right people, give them the tools they need to do their jobs, and get out of the way. Does anyone remember how to do this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-76854470643026382192010-10-27T10:55:57.279-07:002010-10-27T10:55:57.279-07:00Being over 40 does not mean that I need to work 2x...Being over 40 does not mean that I need to work 2x-3x harder than the new college grad at $60,000, in order to earn my higher pay. I just need to not make as many stupid mistakes from inexperience, as the new college grad. I need to be sure not to offend everyone else with my arrogance of being young and superior to those who have 20 years of pertinent work experience. I just need to have already learned that my state college or prestigious university degree did not make me superior to those around me (well, at least not everyone). I just need to know when we have already made a mistake, and not make it again. History is a great teacher, and it's far more interesting to make a new mistake than to again make the same ones that the group made 5 years ago, when the new hire was a senior in high school and therefore unaware of the intricate cyles of technology and software development.<br /><br />People don't earn more over their careers because they are old, they earn more because they earned salary increases. If everyone who is 40 is actually officially old and stupid, so be it, but perhaps experience does have value, does provide insight, and does provide those who have it with some unique advantages and knowledge, particularly if they are skilled at leading others, including new hires who are ready, willing, and able to learn and grow their abilities.<br /><br />Sometimes old is old, and sometimes it looks different when you get there. None of you is getting younger. If only the young are worthy of health insurance and compensation, I say bank it while you've got it. As anyone with a teenager in their home knows, it truly must be nice to know everything. If you make it to 40 or older, you too may get to have the experience of impacting medical expenses to the org by giving birth, and all that other expensive stuff that comes from producting the next generation who will pay for your Medicare and all that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-47189845935690412062010-10-24T21:07:44.910-07:002010-10-24T21:07:44.910-07:00If I'm prudent with the money my employer depo...<i>If I'm prudent with the money my employer deposits into that account on my behalf -- using, for example, $500 each year of a $2,500 annual contribution -- I'd have $40,000 in that account at the end of 20 years.</i><br /><br />Very few will make it 20 years at msft. Either they will be booted in or near their 40's or they will make it into the undesirable 10% ranking before then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-20103944333932659632010-10-23T02:56:40.491-07:002010-10-23T02:56:40.491-07:00I'm over 40 and I still think I'm indestru...I'm over 40 and I still think I'm indestructable...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-11196798265683244932010-10-20T21:37:00.833-07:002010-10-20T21:37:00.833-07:00I'm about on my way out ... and am curious abo...I'm about on my way out ... and am curious about Cobra vs. MSA. Any advice? I looked at the MSA health plans, and they appear to only apply to small businesses, not individuals. Any advice on the best way to go for someone w/ a few serious pre-existing conditions in her family?<br />Thx!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-62222430426089477742010-10-20T10:37:28.031-07:002010-10-20T10:37:28.031-07:00The Kinect ought to be an even better interface fo...<i>The Kinect ought to be an even better interface for such applications.</i><br /><br />2010: Microsoft enters the medical devices market, introduces the Kinect Physical Therapy System.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-34873868840574053362010-10-20T08:55:01.401-07:002010-10-20T08:55:01.401-07:00>One of the markets for the Wii has been retire...>One of the markets for the Wii has been retirement facilities or physical therapists for the elderly. <br /><br />Wow, what a lucrative gaming market, I hope we can lock that one up ASAP.<br /><br />>The Kinect ought to be an even better interface for such applications.<br /><br />No, the Kinnect involves a LOT more physical exertion. Not a great idea for the aged or recovering. The Wii offers a somewhat minimal physical exertion profile while still being fun enough to distract you from the fact you are 'exercising'. Imagine the few games you have seen demoed for Kinnect (say at the company meeting), now imagine a 90 year person playing any of them. Still think that is a good idea? Is one of our partners going to make the Aged and Recovering Pack?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-84731865939003153602010-10-19T21:03:00.403-07:002010-10-19T21:03:00.403-07:00Hi ho, Hi ho - it's off on RIF I go...
I did g...Hi ho, Hi ho - it's off on RIF I go...<br />I did great job, I didn't rob, but that was not enough.<br />Oh me, oh my, an E and 70 then<br />Oh me, oh my, an A and 70 now<br />Hi ho, Hi ho - it's off on RIF I go...<br />I think I see, I know I see, the light has dimmed for me.<br />Oh me, oh why, has Ozzie left roost?<br />Oh me, oh why, will Ballmer get the boot?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-62227150606296841372010-10-19T08:14:11.859-07:002010-10-19T08:14:11.859-07:00Anon wrote: "The Kinect, from what I can see,...Anon wrote: "The Kinect, from what I can see, requires pretty much full body involvement for every game. It demos well and is a nifty bit of engineering, but I have a hard time believing most gamers really want to be tired out by their games. "<br /><br />One of the markets for the Wii has been retirement facilities or physical therapists for the elderly. When my father had a hip replacement he was sent for recovery and rehab to such a facility, and I noticed they had a Wii set up in their therapy area, along with more traditional equipment.<br /><br />The Kinect ought to be an even better interface for such applications.Jon Hendrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-14357533324530089682010-10-19T07:37:09.404-07:002010-10-19T07:37:09.404-07:00There is so much more to consider--like where is t...<i>There is so much more to consider--like where is the money coming from to pay for healthcare in Ireland? <b>What is their standard of living?</b> Do you realize that their unemployment rate has been in the double digits for decades? Recently it's been close to 14%.</i><br /><br />Seriously? By most measures the standard of living in Ireland is consistently higher than the US. AND you are wrong about those unemployment figures, for the last 10 years unemployment in Ireland was also <i>lower</i> than the US (though the rates in both countries have shot up over 10% recently).<br /><br />Sure, the money to pay for public healthcare comes from the tax payer but by pooling a portion of our income and reducing the opportunity for massive profiteering by insurance companies and their shareholders and other vested interests, we can get a hell of a lot more medicine for our money, and live for longer to enjoy the spoils too. I don't know, but it seems like a sensible way to do things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-24459750133426415992010-10-19T07:25:15.592-07:002010-10-19T07:25:15.592-07:00EXERCISE YOUR VOTE! This time when the proxy vote...EXERCISE YOUR VOTE! This time when the proxy vote came in the mail, I read it, and took it seriously. VOTE BALLMER DOWN!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-87355000654517956912010-10-19T05:26:27.218-07:002010-10-19T05:26:27.218-07:00Folks, We create a FACEBOOK account and expose all...<i>Folks, We create a FACEBOOK account and expose all these corrupt managers who have damaged our careers?</i><br /><br />Because everyone knows Microsoft is not in bed with Facebook.<br /><br />Erm, no.<br /><br />Mini's picked about the safest place, I think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-32023237362067575382010-10-19T03:58:18.783-07:002010-10-19T03:58:18.783-07:00"Ozzie was probably not the right guy, but wh..."Ozzie was probably not the right guy, but who will be the "Steve Jobs" of Microsoft?"<br /><br />Its an impossible job. Ray was able to make progress in the cloud because that domain hadn't been 'claimed' yet. Unless a CSA has power over other product groups leaders, the role is at best just in a consultant role. Ballmer knows this, which is why he's not going to name a replacement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-79820121985594219882010-10-19T03:50:43.845-07:002010-10-19T03:50:43.845-07:00no question that the worst thing about ray leaving...no question that the worst thing about ray leaving is that it positions mundie to be the CTO. I had heard for years that Mundie was trying to run Ray out.<br /><br />If you have met Mundie, i doubt that you will like him, respect him or have any hope. he is a smart douchebag but not one that can build a business. While he was CEO of a public company, that company got SHUT DOWN right after he was CEO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-14828270668073589372010-10-19T03:26:04.016-07:002010-10-19T03:26:04.016-07:00Great thread. Look, the point of an HSA plan is th...Great thread. Look, the point of an HSA plan is that employees, especially younger ones, can save money and build up capital in the account. So let's say you're 30 and the first two years you do not have medical expenses beyond the first $1,000.00. Presto! You now have at least $4,000.00 that you can draw on in future years to pay those out-of-pocket expenses. It works well at my tiny (10 person) publishing company.<br />As to the Microsoftie who fears an extra $3750 will cause new foreclosures--I have to agree with those who say "Welcome to the real world" where people tighten their belts an extra $3750.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-71711030389331395762010-10-18T22:04:10.428-07:002010-10-18T22:04:10.428-07:00I'm so sick and tired of Steve Ballmer. Everyo...I'm so sick and tired of Steve Ballmer. Everyone in Microsoft (except the ass-kissing individuals that are only sucking money), knows that Steve is destroying the company. I'm afraid everyone leaving the company, low rank or high rank, entry levels or Chris Liddell and Ray Ozzie, everyone is sick and tired of Steve Ballmer.<br />Steve, please have the dignity to resign. Don't worry, you are not here to save us all, and we will do just fine without you.<br /><br />The only thing to "admire" at Steve is his cunning ability to lure the board to elect him again and again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-4615524367653705952010-10-18T22:03:02.754-07:002010-10-18T22:03:02.754-07:00Let me suggest you an alternate solution:
First o...<i>Let me suggest you an alternate solution:<br /><br />First of all, buy a Mini Digital Voice Recorder Pen or, even better, a Voice-activated DVR Micro Camera and record every verbal abuse you're receiving. </i><br /><br />Before doing that, be sure to read RCW 9.73.030(1)(b).<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/2cn55dtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-67900968319232689672010-10-18T21:40:23.649-07:002010-10-18T21:40:23.649-07:00Ozzie wrote one of the best selling software produ...Ozzie wrote one of the best selling software products of all time. How many of the other msft execs have written “Hello World?” This is a software company run by folks who for the most part don’t know dick about software.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-68918068766655246282010-10-18T21:10:53.106-07:002010-10-18T21:10:53.106-07:00MSFT should tie the review system with the HealthC...<i>MSFT should tie the review system with the HealthCare benefits. Those with BMI of 25 or higher automatically get a U/10 and Sr. Mgmgt can't be exempt. I bet that would get lots of folks motivated to take better care of themselves. Or allow those that opt for voluntary drug/ETOH/tabacoo screening and under a BMI of 25 to get keep their old plans. </i><br /><br />Dear God, I'd hope if they implement something along those lines (which would be fine with me), they'd at least have the sense not to use a bullshit metric like BMI.<br /><br />BMI is purely a "back of the envelope" calculation almost guaranteed to be inaccurate. It makes no allowance for muscle mass or body type beyond height and weight.<br /><br />Tom Cruise is "obese" by BMI standards. Do you still think it's a valid measure?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1707922843044298562010-10-18T21:09:15.647-07:002010-10-18T21:09:15.647-07:00"Result: comment in my review that I missed t..."Result: comment in my review that I missed the deadline without notifying the management on time."<br /><br />You do realize that you got dinged for lack of communication rather than for a missed deadline, right? All the details pertaining to code review arent the issue... you failed to communicate critical information to your management... sounds justified to me. Do you know what your lack of communication cost your manager in their review? <br /><br />This is the problem with so many in the bottom 30%... you look everywhere else but the mirror...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-16827826136136712252010-10-18T21:05:47.649-07:002010-10-18T21:05:47.649-07:00I have trouble understanding this. Positive action...<b><i>I have trouble understanding this. Positive action that seems futile on the surface almost always has some good consequences—even if the sidewalk is only clean for half the day, that’s good news for people that walk on it then. Bitching on the other hand just keeps people stuck 1) doing nothing, 2) feeling helpless, and 3) the sidewalks are never clean.</i></b><br /><br />The phenomenon is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness" rel="nofollow">learned helplessness</a>.<br /><br />Wasting your time in a situation where you can't make the changes you want is not good for your physical or mental health.<br /><br />If you find yourself in such a situation, it is better to leave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-52657674758273952662010-10-18T20:48:16.779-07:002010-10-18T20:48:16.779-07:00Here's a former Microsoft manager that thinks ...Here's a former Microsoft manager that thinks the performance curve is wonderful but he's moving to Facebook.<br /><br />For those who like to "accentuate the positive", he sounds like a manager you would like.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKrC9Tu8gpo" rel="nofollow">The Singing Detective - Accentuate the Positive</a><br /><br />What he says about having ideas but not implementing them is very true.<br /><br />If you have a great idea but are not in a position to implement it at Microsoft, you would be better off quitting and starting a company (he only recommends stop talking about it).<br /><br />Good ideas don't get you a higher review score at the end of the year but being in a position to implement them can.<br /><br /><a href="http://worldofsu.com/philipsu/?page_id=193" rel="nofollow">Goodbye Microsoft, Hello Facebook!</a><br /><br /><i>Good ideas are a dime a dozen. Great ideas are usually laughed at. Neither sees the light of day without you taking action. Do the work to prove your idea, or stop talking about it. In an entrepreneurship class in college, I pitched the idea of an online grocery delivery service and got laughed off stage. Hurt, but convinced of my great genius, I returned the following week to pitch the idea of online movie rentals using the postal service. I called it NetVideo. Everyone thought it was absurd. I used to tell this story to bolster what I thought was my streak of unrecognized, prognosticating technical genius. These days, I tell the story to remind myself that in the end, only action and execution matter.</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-50498081143792464102010-10-18T19:31:36.119-07:002010-10-18T19:31:36.119-07:00First of all realize that there is an 80/20 rule a...<i>First of all realize that there is an 80/20 rule at work here. 80% of the comments come from the 20% who are disaffected for one reason or another. That's excluding the trolls and outsiders who have a bone to pick with Microsoft, Ballmer, immigrant engineers or corporate America. </i><br /><br />I'll add one:<br /><br />There's also a cute habit of some to manufacture statistics to 'prove' their points when they have no evidence other than their gut feeling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com