Editing Microsoft (section)

===Corporate culture===
Technical references for developers and articles for various Microsoft magazines such as ''[[Microsoft Systems Journal]]'' (''MSJ'') are available through the [[Microsoft Developer Network]] (MSDN). MSDN also offers subscriptions for companies and individuals, and the more expensive subscriptions usually offer access to pre-release beta versions of Microsoft software.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2fsubscriptions%2ffaq%2fdefault.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |title=MSDN Subscription FAQ |access-date=July 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112083150/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2Fsubscriptions%2Ffaq%2Fdefault.aspx |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |title=Microsoft Systems Journal Homepage |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 15, 2004 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725152056/http://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2004, Microsoft launched a community site for developers and users, titled [[Channel 9 (Microsoft)|Channel 9]], that provides a [[wiki]] and an [[Internet forum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hobson |first=Neville |url=http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |title=Microsoft's Channel 9 And Cultural Rules |work=WebProNews |publisher=iEntry Inc |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420185313/http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |archive-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Another community site that provides daily [[Podcast#Video podcasts|videocasts]] and other services, On10.net, launched on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.On10.net |title=On10.net homepage |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428070407/http://www.on10.net/ |archive-date=April 28, 2006}}</ref> Free technical support is traditionally provided through online [[Usenet]] newsgroups, and [[CompuServe]] in the past, monitored by Microsoft employees; there can be several newsgroups for a single product. Helpful people can be elected by peers or Microsoft employees for [[Microsoft Most Valuable Professional]] (MVP) status, which entitles them to a sort of special social status and possibilities for awards and other benefits.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on/ |title=Somehow, Usenet lumbers on |last=Bray |first=Hiawatha |date=June 13, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322135139/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on |archive-date=March 22, 2009}}</ref>

Noted for its internal [[lexicon]], the expression "[[eating your own dog food]]" is used to describe the policy of using pre-release and beta versions of products inside Microsoft to test them in "real-world" situations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft tests its own dog food |url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108214545/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |work=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 21, 2003 |access-date=October 9, 2005}}</ref> This is usually shortened to just "dog food" and is used as a noun, verb, and adjective. Another bit of [[jargon]], [[FYIFV]] or FYIV ("[[Fuck]] You, I'm [Fully] Vested"), is used by an employee to indicate they are [[financial independence|financially independent]] and can avoid work anytime they wish.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Heilemann |first=John |author-link=John Heilemann |title=The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth |url=https://www.wired.com/2000/11/microsoft-7/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |date=November 2000 |access-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724133013/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.11/microsoft_pr.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008}}</ref>

Microsoft is an outspoken opponent of the cap on [[H-1B visa]]s, which allows companies in the U.S. to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas makes it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap" in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |title=Gates Rakes Congress on H1B Visa Cap |last=Mark |first=Roy |work=internetnews.com |date=April 27, 2005 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610153421/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of H1B visas argue that relaxing the limits would result in increased unemployment for U.S. citizens due to H1B workers working for lower salaries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |title=Bill Gates Targets Visa Rules for Tech Workers |work=NPR |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424010916/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Human Rights Campaign]] Corporate Equality Index, a report of how progressive the organization deems company policies towards [[LGBT]] employees, rated Microsoft as 87% from 2002 to 2004 and as 100% from 2005 to 2010 after they allowed gender expression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Equality Index Archive |url=http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |publisher=Human Rights Campaign Foundation |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703003315/http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>

In August 2018, Microsoft implemented a policy for all companies providing subcontractors to require 12 weeks of paid parental leave to each employee. This expands on the former requirement from 2015 requiring 15 days of paid vacation and sick leave each year.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dreyfuss |first1=Emily |title=Will Others Follow Microsoft's Lead on Paid Parental Leave? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |access-date=September 1, 2018 |publisher=WIRED |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901114448/https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Microsoft established its own parental leave policy to allow 12 weeks off for parental leave with an additional 8 weeks for the parent who gave birth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kastrenakes |first1=Jacob |title=Microsoft says its US contractors must offer paid parental leave |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |access-date=September 1, 2018 |website=The Verge |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901155850/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>