Microsoft

The best work-life balance you'll probably find among FAANG companies. Everyone is easy-going, and the work environment is quite relaxed. Some of the nicest coworkers I've had the pleasure to work with.

Great benefits such as:

• Employee Purchase Stock Plan
• Great 401k matching
• $1.2k per year fitness stipend
• Free public transportation card
• Amazing health insurance
• etc.

The work itself can be quite mundane and boring. Not a lot of fast-paced or greenfield projects. You'll find yourself providing support to an existing product, so developing new features will be low on your team's priority list. The teams are structured top-down, so as a junior employee, you'll find yourself being given work that the senior engineers don't want to do. The pay is also quite poor compared to other FAANG companies.

Prioritize the growth of junior employees if you want to get rid of the 'retirement home' reputation.

Get rid of unnecessary product managers and engineering managers, since they typically provide no value.