Microsoft Wins Best Multinational Workplace in Europe 2011 Award
Great Place to Work Institute awards Microsoft top spot on inaugural Best Multinational Workplace in Europe list.
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Paris, France – May 27, 2011 - The Great Place to Work® Institute today announced that Microsoft Corp. is the inaugural winner of the Best Multinational Workplaces 2011 in Europe award. The award was announced at a gala ceremony at the Great Place to Work European Conference 2011 in Paris, following an annual survey and report on the 100 Best Workplaces in Europe. This year 1,380 companies participated in the study, representing more than 1.5 million employees, making it the largest study of its kind. More than 12,000 Microsoft employees participated in the survey across Europe.
The institute celebrates companies that inspire their employees by providing outstanding workspaces, practices, benefits and recognition. Microsoft’s achievements in Europe reflect its management philosophy to trust employees and give them the freedom to organize flexible schedules, work remotely and use technology in a smart way to help enable a better work-life balance.
"Being named Best Place to Work in Europe for the fourth year in a row is a great honor for us, especially because it's an employee-driven award," said Jean-Philippe Courtois, president, Microsoft International. "We believe the combination of our mission, our people and constantly finding new ways to use technology to help employees communicate and collaborate across cities, borders and around the world, are vital ingredients for attracting, retaining and motivating Europe's best talent."
“Winning the top spot on our new European Best Multinational Workplaces list, on the back of several national awards, reflects Microsoft’s continued success in creating a working environment where people can thrive,” said José Tolovi Jr, Global CEO for the Great Place to Work Institute. “The new list recognizes companies that create great workplaces across country borders, as well as cultural and language differences. Operating successfully in multiple countries is a complex job and Microsoft has shown how to create a great workplace in multiple countries through a combination of leadership and smart use of technology.”
Microsoft fosters a flexible working culture focused on trust in its people: giving employees the freedom to manage their work through a new digital work style and providing them with the technology and a culture of openness and transparency to work in a self-determined manner. The company is focused on improving collaboration and knowledge sharing in a dispersed virtual organization that increases productivity, employee satisfaction, flexibility and innovation. Many Microsoft offices including the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Finland—with others to come—have taken this a step further by transforming their workplace to better reflect this New World of Work. People are encouraged to work from home, there are no assigned desks or private offices and the layout of the building is designed to maximize communication and collaboration.
Hans Kristian Moslund, Account Manager at Microsoft’s Development Center in Copenhagen lives in Aarhus in Jutland. It takes him four hours to travel from Aarhus to Copenhagen but because of Microsoft´s flexible approach, he can work where, when and how he wants to. “For me flexibility means everything. We have some guidelines for how we work at Microsoft, but I can do my work whenever I want. If my son is sick and has to be picked up early I can work in the evening if it suits me better,” said Hans Kristian Moslund.
This year the 100 Best Workplaces in Europe was divided into three lists for the first time; the 25 Best Multinational Workplaces; the 50 Best Small and Medium-Sized Workplaces and the 25 Best Large Workplaces. For the last three years in a row, Microsoft has won the Best Large Workplace in Europe 2010 award.
To be eligible for the 25 Best Multinational Workplaces, companies must be listed on at least three national Best Workplaces Lists in Europe. This year, Microsoft surpassed the eligibility criteria as a total of twelve local offices featured on national lists, including topping the lists in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Since 2003, Microsoft offices in Europe have been recognized by the awards on various lists every year.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About The Great Place to Work Institute
The Great Place to Work Institute is dedicated to helping organizations understand and practice the qualities and behaviours that lead to the creation of great workplaces. This effort leads to enhanced quality of work life for employees and improved financial performance for the organization.
Other Resources:
The institute celebrates companies that inspire their employees by providing outstanding workspaces, practices, benefits and recognition. Microsoft’s achievements in Europe reflect its management philosophy to trust employees and give them the freedom to organize flexible schedules, work remotely and use technology in a smart way to help enable a better work-life balance.
"Being named Best Place to Work in Europe for the fourth year in a row is a great honor for us, especially because it's an employee-driven award," said Jean-Philippe Courtois, president, Microsoft International. "We believe the combination of our mission, our people and constantly finding new ways to use technology to help employees communicate and collaborate across cities, borders and around the world, are vital ingredients for attracting, retaining and motivating Europe's best talent."
“Winning the top spot on our new European Best Multinational Workplaces list, on the back of several national awards, reflects Microsoft’s continued success in creating a working environment where people can thrive,” said José Tolovi Jr, Global CEO for the Great Place to Work Institute. “The new list recognizes companies that create great workplaces across country borders, as well as cultural and language differences. Operating successfully in multiple countries is a complex job and Microsoft has shown how to create a great workplace in multiple countries through a combination of leadership and smart use of technology.”
Microsoft fosters a flexible working culture focused on trust in its people: giving employees the freedom to manage their work through a new digital work style and providing them with the technology and a culture of openness and transparency to work in a self-determined manner. The company is focused on improving collaboration and knowledge sharing in a dispersed virtual organization that increases productivity, employee satisfaction, flexibility and innovation. Many Microsoft offices including the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Finland—with others to come—have taken this a step further by transforming their workplace to better reflect this New World of Work. People are encouraged to work from home, there are no assigned desks or private offices and the layout of the building is designed to maximize communication and collaboration.
Hans Kristian Moslund, Account Manager at Microsoft’s Development Center in Copenhagen lives in Aarhus in Jutland. It takes him four hours to travel from Aarhus to Copenhagen but because of Microsoft´s flexible approach, he can work where, when and how he wants to. “For me flexibility means everything. We have some guidelines for how we work at Microsoft, but I can do my work whenever I want. If my son is sick and has to be picked up early I can work in the evening if it suits me better,” said Hans Kristian Moslund.
This year the 100 Best Workplaces in Europe was divided into three lists for the first time; the 25 Best Multinational Workplaces; the 50 Best Small and Medium-Sized Workplaces and the 25 Best Large Workplaces. For the last three years in a row, Microsoft has won the Best Large Workplace in Europe 2010 award.
To be eligible for the 25 Best Multinational Workplaces, companies must be listed on at least three national Best Workplaces Lists in Europe. This year, Microsoft surpassed the eligibility criteria as a total of twelve local offices featured on national lists, including topping the lists in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Since 2003, Microsoft offices in Europe have been recognized by the awards on various lists every year.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About The Great Place to Work Institute
The Great Place to Work Institute is dedicated to helping organizations understand and practice the qualities and behaviours that lead to the creation of great workplaces. This effort leads to enhanced quality of work life for employees and improved financial performance for the organization.
Other Resources:
- Speech by Jean-Philippe Courtois on the New World of Work at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
- The Microsoft France campus website (video and pictures available)
- Link to the Microsoft Netherlands Het Nieuwe Werken (New Way of Working) website
- Images of the Microsoft Amsterdam offices
- The Microsoft Finland blog (in Finnish)
- Images of the Microsoft Finland offices
Images
 Jean-Philippe Courtois President, Microsoft International |  Great Place To Work Logo |
