Microsoft

This used to be a great company to work for. I have been with Microsoft in one way, shape, or form since 2006. I have been both a contractor/vendor and a full-time direct employee.

Microsoft used to be an awesome company with vision, great products, and they treated people with respect and dignity, fostering a very healthy work environment.

Where do I begin?

1. They drag their feet when hiring you. This could literally take 5 weeks for them to get through all their corporate nightmare processes (see next point), but they are quick to fire and lay off people (I wasn't fired or laid off, but I'm just saying).

2. They are overrun by corporate processes and clutter. Everything is more complicated than it should be by 6 or 7 levels. This is showing in the marketplace too.

3. There is a lot of ancient arrogance. There are still zombies within the company that have worked here 10+ years who think they know better than everyone, and this is hurting Microsoft in the long run. A good example is Windows Phone.

4. They have a clear and distinct "first and second-class citizen" system. As a full-time employee, you are considered a first-class citizen. As contingent staff (contractor/vendor), you are considered as disposable as a styrofoam cup. But wait, it gets worse. Not only is this true, but they also make it a point, on a constant basis, to remind you that you are dirt and will be tossed to the curb at any time. No, I'm not exaggerating!

5. There is a constant sense of "everything needs to be done yesterday" everywhere. So you could produce really good work, and the response would be like, "That's great, you should have done all of this 3 weeks ago. You're already behind." Once in a while from a crappy boss here and there, I can understand. But this is pretty much everywhere.

I can summarize it as such:

1. Get rid of the zombies that are dragging this company down.
2. Listen to your employees and customers. Don't kid yourself, you don't.
3. Treat people with respect. They are not paper cups.
4. For the love of God, stop with the corporate red tape clutter. This is holding you back.
5. Stop making up excuses of "We have to save money in this tough economy," and laying off thousands of people only to give massive bonuses to senior executives who don't do a whole lot and are already millionaires!