Mitch assumed he would need to save for years to start a family – until he learned that Microsoft’s paid parental leave policy applies to adoptive parents too.
The benefits of working at Microsoft New Zealand
Live the life you want
Our people power everything we do at Microsoft. That’s why we empower them to live a happier, healthier and more connected life, in the workplace and beyond.
Be well
Medical care for you and your family
Your health is our priority. We co-pay your private health insurance with our default provider. Or if you choose another provider, we’ll pay you a monthly opt-out allowance. We also offer annual flu vaccinations and give you and your family free expert medical advice when you need to make important health decisions.
Making mental health a priority
Asking for help can be daunting. But any Microsoft employee can initiate a confidential chat about mental health through Microsoft’s REAL Mates accredited peer support network. Or, if you need professional support, free resources and confidential counselling are on offer through the Microsoft CARES Employee Assistance Program. Microsoft employees can also use Headspace’s mental health services at a discounted rate.
Wellness from within
Hone your emotional health with weekly seminars offering guidance on everything from building resilience to tackling parenting challenges. Or, give meditation a go by logging into our weekly virtual mindfulness sessions with employees across the world. You can also hear from colleagues with stories about mental health in our internal State of Mind podcast.
Healthy bodies, healthy minds
Joining a gym, taking up a tennis lesson or need a new pair of trainers? We want our employees to be well in every sense of the word, which is why we provide an allowance each financial year for physical fitness services.
Make your financial future brighter
Investing in tomorrow
You have the option of saving for your future with KiwiSaver, or joining Microsoft NZ Superannuation Plan. On the Microsoft plan, we’ll match your contributions up to 5% of your base salary.
Protection for life
As a Microsoft employee, you can rest in the knowledge that you’ll be protected if anything goes wrong. We offer life insurance and total permanent disability insurance to our employees, while giving you the flexibility to tailor your cover to suit your needs.
A stake in Microsoft’s future
We’ve made it easier for you to become a Microsoft shareholder with our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You can enjoy a 10 per cent discount on any Microsoft stocks you buy, and purchasing is easy – you simply allocate a contribution to be deducted directly from your pay.
Get the balance right
Family comes first
Relationships sustain us all, and we want our employees to have the time and flexibility to invest in theirs. That’s why we provide 20 weeks of leave at full pay for primary carers of newborns, newly adopted children or newly placed foster children. You can spread this leave over the first two years of your child’s life, or take an extended period at half pay. Partners of primary carers are also entitled to 6 weeks off at full pay.
Employees are welcome to take all of their entitlement at once, or use two weeks of it separately as “bonding leave” at any time in the first year of a child’s birth or placement. Plus, we offer free sessions at ReThink for families needing support with learning, developmental or behavioural challenges.
Reset, recharge, relax
We know how important it is to unplug. Microsoft employees are entitled to the New Zealand standard of four weeks of paid annual leave, which accrues monthly. Leave for our part-time employees accrues on a pro rata basis.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones
Microsoft supports our employees to look after themselves with up to 10 days of Holistic Health Time Off. You’re also entitled to four weeks of leave at full pay if you need to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition.
Compassionate leave
When you lose someone you love, you need time to reflect and rebuild. As a Microsoft employee, you’re entitled to up to five days of paid leave if you lose a close relative, and up to 10 days if they were a member of your immediate family. You can also space this leave out to take some or all of your days while your relative is receiving palliative care.
Support during hardship
Employees facing family and domestic violence are not alone. If you are experiencing this tremendous personal hardship, we will provide 10 days of paid leave so you have time to attend legal appointments, manage a relocation or seek the assistance you need.
Join a community where you belong
Meet likeminded people
Perhaps you want to make LGBTQI+ connections, or maybe you’d like to chat to other women in STEM. You might find it helpful to get in touch with people who share your military background, or you may like to meet other Indigenous employees. Whatever your interests, our employee resource groups help you connect with people who share your experiences. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find your network at Microsoft.
Accessibility in action
We want to bring out the best in every employee and we understand that employees with disabilities have diverse and often complex requirements. That’s why we make it easy for you to request the accommodations you need and connect with our disability-associated Employee Resource Groups.
Give back to your community
We know how much our employees have to offer, and we want them to share it with the world. At Microsoft, you are entitled to three days of paid leave to volunteer every financial year. Members of the New Zealand Emergency Services can also take up to 20 days of paid leave, while employees in the New Zealand Defence Forces are entitled to 10 days of paid leave to fill their duties.
Learn for life
Maximise your potential
We want you to be the best you that you can be, which is why we invest in your professional growth. You can apply for up to $3,000 NZD worth of support for business-related education every year, and take 1 study day per subject.
Get inspired, get informed
Microsoft employees can join hundreds of internal technical, managerial and professional development classes online and in person every year. You can also hear from inspiring leaders at our Outside In speaker series, test your ideas in our annual Hackathon and share your research with colleagues at our TechFest event.
