Diversity

"People fuel the innovation process, and our collaborative energy has been the key to Microsoft's success over the past 30 years. As we bring our innovations into more global markets and work to close the digital divide, it's never been more important to honor, respect and make the most of our Diversity. I encourage our employees to bring a global perspective into everything we do, and to continue investing in building and retaining a Diverse workforce." - Bill Gates

Microsoft values diversity and respects each person's individuality When you sell software to 180 million people, in 70 countries, speaking 150 languages, you can't afford to have a singular point of view. Microsoft employs people from many nationalities and backgrounds - from computer science to aeronautical engineering, fashion design, animal activism and the priesthood. The average age of our employees is a relatively young 34, which helps foster an open-minded, forward-thinking outlook

At Microsoft we have made a corporate commitment to the principle of diversity. We believe that diversity enriches our performance and our products, the communities in which we live and work, and the lives of our employees. As our workforce evolves to reflect the growing diversity of our communities and global marketplace, our efforts to understand, value and incorporate differences become increasingly important.

We have established a number of initiatives to promote diversity within our own organisation, including education and training programs that provide employees with the awareness, skills, knowledge and ability to embrace differences. The programs also communicate the importance of a respectful work environment in maximising the performance of every employee. Microsoft employs a diverse workforce representing a broad range of cultural, linguistic, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds including disabled employees and people from all corners of the globe.

We are proudly an equal opportunity employer.

Women in IT

Microsoft is proudly an equal opportunity employer of women and proactively seeks to ensure our workforce embraces excellence in gender diversity. Microsoft works closely with the Equal Opportunity for Woman in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) to ensure the organisation is compliant with the latest legislative requirements and aware of best practices in the industry for women.

Microsoft annually reviews its female diversity practices relating to:

Microsoft takes a proactive approach to ensuring an inclusive environment for all our people through by reviewing and updating of our working practices. This then leads to focussed communication and education on Equal Employment issues. As a result Microsoft can clearly state that its male and female employees are paid and rewarded on the same measurements based on the role and the merit of performance. There is no distinction based on gender. Furthermore, there is no distinction based on gender with regards to Microsoft's recruitment processes, promotions and transfers, eligibility for benefits, training or conditions of service.

Parents in the Workforce

The average age of Microsoft employees in Australia and New Zealand is 37, many of whom have young families to care for. Microsoft enjoys a family friendly environment so it is not uncommon to see spouses and children dropping by for lunch onsite! Annually we enjoy our "Kids Day" an initiative each December to have our children enjoy a family BBQ and entertainment, and participate in the annual Christmas Charity drive.

Microsoft supports parents in the workforce and those returning to the workforce. We do have a Parental Leave policy in place for the primary carer of children and your Recruiter can provide you with further details. If you need six weeks or up to a year away from work to celebrate the birth of your child and provide care, Microsoft supports you and your right to return to fulltime employment when you are ready.

Our families are the most important priority in life. Microsoft supports Parents in the Workforce by having flexible and convenient programs in place to ensure you can have balance between your family and your career. Just some of these benefits include:

Flexibility

Our employees are our most valued asset, and in recognition of this, Microsoft provides flexible programs, resources and tools to help them create their own kind of balance in life. In this hectic industry, careers are demanding, but if your work is to be fun and rewarding it must take its place and priority alongside your other life interests. At Microsoft, we aim to make the workplace as flexible as possible to enable our employees to have freedom, balance and autonomy.

Below are just some of the work/life balance initiatives offered by Microsoft Australia:

The programs cover the individual employee, work, family and community. In addition to the specific work/life balance programs available, Microsoft is firmly committed to the goal of creating a healthy, flexible, and productive work environment that allows employees to engage in a challenging career while balancing their work/life needs.