Supplier Code of Conduct and training

The requirement to comply with the Supplier Code of Conduct is detailed online, through various Master agreements, and in our PO Terms and Conditions (section 14). Additionally, Suppliers acknowledge the Supplier Code of Conduct and Microsoft PO Terms and Conditions during the Microsoft Supplier setup process.

Visit Doing Business with Microsoft to learn more.

Refer to the Supplier Travel Guidelines PDF.

Suppliers and their employees, personnel, agents, and subcontractors (collectively referred to as "Suppliers") must adhere to this Supplier Code of Conduct while conducting business with or on behalf of Microsoft. Suppliers must require their next-tier suppliers to acknowledge and implement the SCoC in their operations and across their supply chains. Suppliers must promptly inform their Microsoft contact, a member of Microsoft management, or the contacts provided at the end of this document when any situation develops that causes the Supplier to operate in violation of this Code of Conduct.

All Microsoft Suppliers must conduct their employment practices in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and in compliance with Microsoft requirements, which may exceed local legal requirements. In all cases in which Microsoft requirements are more stringent than local legal requirements, Suppliers are required to meet the more stringent Microsoft requirements.

No. While Microsoft Suppliers are expected to self-monitor and demonstrate their compliance with the SCoC, Microsoft may audit Suppliers or inspect Suppliers' facilities used to perform work on behalf of Microsoft to confirm compliance. Suppliers that behave in a manner that is unlawful or inconsistent with the SCoC, or any Microsoft policy, risk termination of their business relationship with Microsoft. Complying with the SCoC and completing the SCoC training obligations are required in addition to meeting any other obligations contained in any agreement a Supplier may have with Microsoft.

SCoC obligations are carried down to supplier's subcontractors for work that is directly related to a Microsoft contract.

Microsoft business owners must grant suppliers approval to use a subcontractor for each engagement. There are no blanket approvals for suppliers to use subcontractors beyond the specific, approved engagement.

No, there are no Supplier Categories that prohibit the use of subcontractors.

Yes. Most work engaged with Microsoft is done so with a Statement of Work which would need to be amended to provide approval to utilize subcontractors if this was not granted at the time the contract was signed. If the engagement is not covered by a Statement of Work (SOW), the supplier is still bound to obtain permission to subcontract per the Microsoft’s Terms & Conditions.

Yes, new written approval to use subcontractors must be granted to the supplier.

Yes, the supplier’s subcontractor must complete SCoC training.

The SCoC was last updated in July 2020. Links to copies of the most recent updates to the SCoC are listed here:

July 2020 Microsoft announcement for the SCoC refresh

July 2019 Microsoft announcement for the SCoC refresh

Companies may be doing business with Microsoft in a variety of capacities. To the extent that a company is exclusively engaged with Microsoft in a Partner capacity and is not providing any procured goods or services to Microsoft, compliance with Microsoft's Partner Code of Conduct and related training requirements would be sufficient at this time. However, if a company is engaged with Microsoft in both a Partner and Supplier capacity, it is expected that in addition to compliance with the Partner Code, they additionally comply with Microsoft's current Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC) and its related requirements.

Microsoft runs on trust. Microsoft expects Suppliers to act ethically and with integrity. Suppliers demonstrate this commitment by complying with the SCoC and ensuring their employees are trained on the Code. This requirement is included in the Master Agreement as well as in the Terms and Conditions of the Purchase Order. Additionally, Suppliers acknowledge the Supplier Code of Conduct and Microsoft PO Terms and Conditions during the Microsoft Supplier setup process.

For additional information on compliance with the SCoC training requirement please explore the training FAQs.

Yes, the license is handled when the account is created. Install Pro Plus by visiting https://portal.office.com/account#installs.

Office 365 Business Premium is a non-enterprise subscription and doesn’t have the OneNote app as part of the suite. It is recommended to have the Office 365 Pro Plus suite to ensure that software and information are managed and protected by Microsoft.

Suppliers can find information online via the Supplier Accessibility Toolkit.

Watch a short video highlighting Accessibility expectations and resources for Suppliers.

We require companies that do business with Microsoft in the United States:

• To provide their employees with at least 15 days of paid leave each year. This requirement applies to suppliers with 50 or more employees in the United States and to their employees who have worked for them for at least 1500 hours in the prior 12 months and who require access to Microsoft’s network and/or facilities.
• To staff Microsoft projects only with W2 employees of their companies, and not independent contractors, when access to Microsoft’s network and/or facilities is required.
• To provide employee health benefits that comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (the “ACA”) to their employees who work for them 30 or more hours per week and who are staffed on Microsoft projects when access to Microsoft’s network and/or facilities is required.
• Beginning January 1, 2020, suppliers must provide their employees at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave at 66% of pay with a cap of $1,000 per week or to comply with Washington’s newly enacted paid family leave law. This new paid parental leave requirement will apply to suppliers with more than 50 employees in the United States and to their employees who have worked for them for at least 1500 hours in the prior 12 months and who require access to Microsoft’s network and/or facilities.

This builds on several recent steps Microsoft has taken to increase workforce inclusion and support employees and their families. We believe that it was the right step for our business.

Paid time off and paid parental leave benefits both employers and employees by contributing to a happier and more productive workforce. We've long recognized that the health, well-being, and diversity of our employees helps Microsoft succeed. That's why we have long provided industry-leading benefits for our employees, including paid time off and paid parental leave. The people who work for our Suppliers are critical to our success, and we want them to have these benefits.

View the paid time off Microsoft blog post.

View the paid parental leave Microsoft blog post.

Yes.

No. These requirements apply to companies that do business with Microsoft in the United States, and for their employees performing work as part of any agreement with Microsoft that requires access to Microsoft facilities or network.

If any Supplier, regardless of location, has employees physically located in the United States and who are performing work on a Microsoft project that requires access to Microsoft facilities or network, then these requirements apply for such employees.

We hope you will provide benefits to all your employees, but our requirement is specific to those people who do substantial work for Microsoft, which we define as those requiring access to our facilities and/or the corporate network.

Suppliers must comply with Washington's recently enacted paid leave law by January of 2020. Suppliers will be able to take advantage of Washington's program to provide the paid leave as applicable. Suppliers may, of course, offer more generous benefits to their employees.

Suppliers must provide their employees with at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave at 66 percent of pay with a cap of $1,000 per week or comply with Washington's newly enacted paid family leave law. Suppliers will be able to take advantage of state programs to provide the paid leave if those programs apply but will need to supplement any state-provided leave to reach our standard. Suppliers may, of course, offer more generous benefits to their employees.

We do require Suppliers to pass down these obligations to their subcontractors.

The paid time off, W2, and healthcare requirements went into effect in 2015; the paid parental leave requirement went into effect January 1, 2020.

No. The 1,500 hours is not tied to Microsoft work. It is based on the time they have worked for their employer. That time may or may not have started with a Microsoft engagement.

Suppliers can rely on state administered paid parental leave benefits, but to the extent the state-administered leave does not meet our required minimum, the Supplier is responsible for administering their paid parental leave program to reach our standard and creating a compliant environment that benefits their employees.

The assignment length policy remains in place.

No. The 15 days of paid time off each year for the eligible employees will be either 10 days of paid vacation and five days of paid sick leave or 15 days of unrestricted paid time off.

Microsoft may engage an individual or a small service provider through Microsoft Procurement's Small Service Provider (SSP) Program.

Contact supscrn@microsoft.com for set-up assistance for a background screening (for suppliers located in the United States, Canada, or Latin America)

Suppliers will receive training materials from the background screening supplier on how to initiate a background screen.

Upon account set up, Suppliers shall designate a representative to upload their employees' contact information to the background screening Supplier's online platform. The system will initiate an email request to employees' inbox.

Employees will then input their personal information required for a background screening. Thereafter, the background screening supplier conducts the research and reports results via its online platform.

If discrepant or derogatory information is discovered, it will be viewable by the Suppliers' designated representative and Microsoft Global Security only.

Employees can request a copy of their background screening report and the Supplier shall be responsible to provide it.

To the extent permitted by law, background checks will typically include review of the following components: identity check, criminal record review, sex offender registry check, and global sanctions list review. For certain placements, Microsoft may require additional screens (for example, education verification, prior employment verification, verification of job-related licenses, consumer credit report review, drug testing, and/or other relevant information-gathering).

Background checks typically take the following average times to conduct; however, there are exceptional circumstances that can take longer or shorter turnaround times to produce.

• 1–3 business days in the United States
• Up to 7 business days in Canada
• Up to 18 business days in Mexico

Suppliers should communicate tentative start dates accordingly.

Yes. First, Suppliers should initiate a background check as soon as their employee has been identified for placement at Microsoft. Next, Suppliers should remind their employees of the need to complete the information in the online tool, ideally within 48 hours. Suppliers should also urge their employees to assist the background screening supplier by answering any inquiries promptly. Last, if employees have not received the request via email as expected, they should check their "junk" or "clutter" folders to ensure it has not been rerouted.

Microsoft can assist with performing a self-ordered screen. This will allow Suppliers' employees to submit their screen without needing an account set up. The screen will be paid for upon submittal. Suppliers' employees will receive a notification once the screening is complete. If required, the background screening identification number will be provided directly to the Suppliers' employees.

Contact supscrn@microsoft.com if you have an onboarding request.

Microsoft requires that Suppliers conduct pre-placement background checks on all their personnel who will require any physical or virtual access to Microsoft. This includes owned or leased facilities or Microsoft corporate network resources. This requirement applies to all locations where background screening has been implemented.

Yes, a background check is required for any former employee or former Supplier to Microsoft.

Yes. Anyone who will be performing work with Microsoft in a location where Microsoft has implemented a background screening program is required to be screened if they need physical or virtual access to Microsoft.

Microsoft requires that Suppliers conduct pre-placement background checks on all their personnel who will require any physical or virtual access to Microsoft. Any Supplier employee who refuses a background screen is not eligible to obtain Microsoft credentials for physical or corporate network access.

When considering information in an individual's background, Suppliers should abide by the laws within the jurisdiction their employee is being considered for placement. If in doubt, consult with your employment law advisors. When considered for placement at Microsoft, individuals should demonstrate a history of conduct that is trustworthy and reliable and does not pose a threat of risk to people, property, or proprietary information. The Supplier must determine whether the background screening report contains information such as criminal convictions or other matters that render the individual unsuited to perform work connected to Microsoft. Examples of convictions that may be reasonably related and should be reviewed by the Supplier include, but are not limited to: crimes of dishonesty (that is, theft, embezzlement, fraud, forgery, etc.) and crimes of violence (that is, murder, rape, kidnapping, assault, robbery, stalking, harassment, etc.).

Supplier must certify that it has conducted pre-placement checks consistent with the Supplier Preplacement Policy and that any convictions, serious delinquency or debt, or any other matters disclosed in the background check that may render the individual unsuitable for placement at Microsoft has been reviewed by the Supplier, and that the Supplier has determined that the individual is suited for access to Microsoft owned or leased facilities or access to Microsoft virtual resources such as email and corporate network access.

Microsoft reserves the right to review and discuss with Suppliers, in a manner consistent with applicable law, pre-placement background information for any individual submitted for placement suitability by Suppliers who may require physical access to Microsoft owned or leased facilities or virtual access to Microsoft resources such as email and corporate network access. Based on that review, Microsoft may prohibit access as it deems appropriate to any individual submitted for placement by Suppliers. The supplier background screening representative will be notified of Microsoft's suitability decision.

A background screen can be reused for placement for up to 18 months if the person does not have a break in service from being on a Microsoft assignment for more than 30 consecutive days and has not changed employers.

A screen is valid for 18 months if the person does not have a break in service from being on a Microsoft assignment for more than 30 consecutive days and does not change employers.

The background screen cost can vary depending on fees incurred by the background screening provider while conducting the screen. Different jurisdictions and courts may charge fees; however, on average, the cost of a background screen is approximately $40 in the United States. 

Contact supscrn@microsoft.com for background screen pricing in Canada and LATAM

Costs of doing business with Microsoft, such as a background screening fees, are the responsibility of the Supplier Company, unless there is a negotiated contract that specifies otherwise.

Yes, for certain positions involving customer engagements or contractual requirements, a rescreening may be required. The assigned Microsoft representative will notify the Supplier when a rescreening is required.

For questions about how to process a background check, read through the Supplier FAQs or contact Microsoft Global Background Screening Program at the below email addresses.

If Suppliers' employees have questions, they should contact their Human Resources department or management directly.

Suppliers, send questions to Microsoft Global Security via supscrn@microsoft.com.

Contact esscrng@microsoft.com for inquiries related to background screenings for External Staff working in the ASIA or EMEA region.

To help achieve the company’s broader sustainability goals, Microsoft is implementing additional sustainability requirements for suppliers. More specifically, suppliers will be required to disclose their carbon emissions and develop plans to reduce such emissions. The timing of supplier conformance to this requirement may be determined by Microsoft standards and requirements that are set forth in their contract with Microsoft.

As outlined in our January 2020 sustainability announcement, Microsoft is committed to becoming carbon negative (removing more carbon out of the atmosphere than the company emits) by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, we must continue to partner with our suppliers and build on existing efforts to track and reduce our scope 3 emissions, which contribute a majority of Microsoft’s overall emissions. Our policies are designed to achieve these goals in partnership with our suppliers.

Sustainability requirements have historically been listed in the Microsoft Supplier Code of Conduct. The following has been added to the Microsoft Supplier Code of Conduct for FY21 to require the reporting of supply chain emissions in line with Microsoft’s carbon negative commitments:

Suppliers must disclose complete, consistent, and accurate scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and/or components required to calculate GHG emissions data, via CDP or an alternative method that Microsoft will provide. If requested by Microsoft, suppliers must provide plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in alignment with Microsoft’s requirements. The timing of supplier conformance to this requirement may be determined by Microsoft standards and requirements that are set forth in their contract with Microsoft.

Visit the CDP website for more information.

CDP — previously known as the “Carbon Disclosure Project”—is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

Microsoft partners with CDP to disclose its own GHG emissions and water usage, as well as to collect emissions information from its suppliers.

CDP is not the only platform available for emissions disclosure. Microsoft wants to leverage the most accurate data possible to understand its emissions and to enable transparent tracking of emissions reduction progress. We will leverage alternative, industry-specific disclosure tools as necessary. As an example, we require construction suppliers to utilize the EC3 tool to disclose the embodied carbon of datacenter builds.

Microsoft will contact suppliers as needed to let them know which tool to leverage.

Sign in to the EC3 tool.

Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun and warm the planet’s surface. Primary anthropogenic sources of GHG emissions are the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is a standard unit for measuring greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse Gas emissions include:

• CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
• CH4 (Methane)
• N2O (Nitrous Oxide)
• HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
• PFCs (Perfluorocarbons)
• SF6 (Sulfur Hexafluoride)
• NF3 (Nitrogen trifluoride)

GHG emissions are organized into categories, or “scopes”:

• Scope 1: direct emissions from fuel combustion and refrigerant leakage from company facilities and vehicles
• Scope 2: indirect emissions from the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, and cooling
• Scope 3: indirect emissions from a company’s value chain (e.g., purchased goods and services, use of sold products, travel)

Microsoft follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This is the same methodology recommended by CDP. While we do not require a specific methodology to be followed, we do require our suppliers to report complete, consistent, and accurate data.

View the Greenhouse Gas Protocol website to learn more.

Yes. During our feedback sessions, we heard from suppliers that a lot of the existing resources are quite technical (see below). We are in the process of curating materials and resources to empower our suppliers to meet our carbon emission reporting requirements based on their varying maturity levels. Expect to see more in early 2021.

Carbon Accounting Resources

• View the GHG Protocol (multiple resources)
• Use the EPA GHG Emissions Calculator
• Watch the CDP Supplier Support Webinars
• View the CDP Guide for Environmental Action
• View the CDP Climate Change 2020 Questionnaire (for reference)
• View the CDP Climate Change 2020 Reporting Guidance (for reference)
• Learn more about Microsoft Cloud-based Carbon Emissions

Yes. We heard from suppliers that it would be helpful to have a “checklist” of easy to implement actions that could be taken to reduce emissions. We are in the process of curating this material. Expect to see more in early 2021.

Yes. As our President, Brad Smith, announced in January 2020, our Climate Innovation Fund will commit to invest $1 billion over the next four years into new carbon emissions reduction technologies.

We’ll focus our funding on investments primarily based on four criteria: (1) strategies that have the prospect of driving meaningful decarbonization, climate resilience, or other sustainability impact; (2) additional market impact in accelerating current and potential solutions; (3) relevance to Microsoft by creating technologies we can use to address our unpaid climate debt and future emissions; and (4) consideration of climate equity, including for developing economies.

Learn more about the Climate Innovation Fund

In January 2020, our President, Brad Smith, shared the context behind our carbon emissions reduction commitment:

While the world will need to reach net zero, those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so. That’s why we announced an ambitious goal and plan to reduce and ultimately remove our carbon footprint.

We cannot meet our goals alone, which is why we are partnering with suppliers to reduce our scope 3 emissions. As we move forward to achieving our net zero ambition, it is critical that we work with companies who share these values. Sentiment across Microsoft to engage suppliers who prioritize sustainability is strong. Most importantly, reducing GHG emissions is a global effort to limit climate change, in line with a 1.5-degree Celsius pathway, that benefits everyone.

Suppliers will share emissions reductions plans as part of the annual CDP disclosure or an alternative prescribed by Microsoft.

Feedback we heard from suppliers included an interest in sharing best practices amongst companies and learning from each other. We would like to support this effort and are thinking through the best way to facilitate learning sessions.

We heard from suppliers that carbon emissions disclosure requires a great deal of time and expertise, especially for organizations new to the process.  We therefore intend to take a phased approach in rolling out this disclosure requirement*. Microsoft will contact you by November 2020 if you will be required to disclose in the upcoming April 2021 CDP cycle.

For suppliers not required to disclose in April 2021, we recommend investing in learning for future cycles.

*If, prior to July 2020, you were contractually required by Microsoft to submit your carbon emissions, then you will need to continue to meet any deadlines relevant to your contract.

Microsoft trusts our Suppliers to ensure that any of their employees working with or on behalf of Microsoft, both with and without network/building access, are trained annually on our Supplier Code of Conduct.

Microsoft requires Suppliers to utilize a third-party SCoC training platform to administer and track the annual training requirement for all their employees and subcontractors working on Microsoft matters. There is no cost to Suppliers for use of this SCoC training platform. Both the platform and the training are offered in 26 languages.

Suppliers should have received a registration from the third-party SCoC training platform requiring them to complete registration which includes an attestation on the Supplier’s training obligations. 

Note: the notification was sent from the third-party SCoC training platform email address: microsoft@e-learningconsulting.com. Registration must be completed within 30 days of the notification. Individual trainings for applicable supplier employees should be completed based on the required annual cadence. There is not a set timeline for your training, it will vary depending on your employee base & how you manage your annual refresh process.

Note: Previously, Suppliers were expected to administer and track the annual training via their own methods and tools. This change and requirement of a third-party provided training platform is in response to your feedback and is intended to make this process easier for Suppliers. There will be no cost to Suppliers for use of the training platform.

You may self-register directly at the third-party SCoC training platform. The registration process requires your Microsoft Supplier ID number.

Yes! If you are a supplier that currently has more than one Supplier ID number, email scocofc@microsoft.com to request help centralizing training. We will need a listing of all your Supplier ID#’s, which Supplier ID# to consolidate under as well as a contact name and email.

Yes, that is correct. If you wish to centralize training to one Supplier ID – please inform us at scocofc@microsoft.com. We will need a listing of all your Supplier ID#’s, which Supplier ID# to consolidate under as well as a contact name and email.

You can assign training to any applicable employee from any of the Supplier ID numbers registered in the training platform. If you have more than one Supplier ID and would prefer to centralize training, please see the above question.

Yes, each Supplier ID requires an attestation unless you specify, you’d like to centralize training (see previous question).

Per the July 2020 Microsoft announcement and associated changes to the SCoC, Suppliers are required to utilize our third-party SCoC training platform to administer and track the annual training requirement for all their employees and subcontractors working on Microsoft matters. 

Suppliers should have received a registration notification from the third-party SCoC training platform requiring them to complete registration which includes an attestation on the Supplier’s training obligations. Note: the notification was sent from the third-party SCoC training platform email address: microsoft@e-learningconsulting.com. Registration must be completed within 30 days of the notification. Individual trainings for applicable supplier employees should be completed based on the required annual cadence. Training timelines will vary depending on your employee base & how you manage your annual refresh process.

We are committed to working with suppliers to ensure they are fully onboarded to this new training platform. If you are a supplier that has challenges completing your actions in a timely manner, reach out to scocofc@microsoft.com.

Any External Staff* engaged in services for Microsoft, or who will bill time to Microsoft, or who otherwise work on Microsoft matters are required to complete SCoC training and agree to comply with the SCoC. External Staff includes Contractors, Vendors, Business Guests, and Outsourced Staff.

*Individuals who 1) are engaged in providing services for Microsoft, 2) bill time to Microsoft, or 3) otherwise work on Microsoft matters, are required to complete the Supplier Code of Conduct training.

A supplier’s entire workforce does not need to take our training. At the highest level, our intent is anyone doing work for or on behalf of Microsoft should take the training. It is hard to give scenario-based judgement without understanding our engagement with a supplier and the nature of the work they are providing. We are trusting our suppliers to use appropriate judgement in how to interpret this.

Yes, the supplier’s subcontractor must complete SCoC training.

Any External Staff engaged in services for Microsoft, or who will bill time to Microsoft, or who otherwise work on Microsoft matters, are required to complete SCoC training and agree to comply with the SCoC. This requirement is not time specific and applies to anyone working with or on behalf of Microsoft for any period of time. We are trusting our suppliers to use appropriate judgement in how to interpret this.

No. The “Vendor Code of Conduct” (renamed Supplier Code of Conduct) training was updated in 2016 and continues to be refreshed annually.

Yes. Suppliers who have an existing Learning Management System (LMS) may continue to do so but will first be required to complete the registration process in the Microsoft provided third-party SCoC training portal. After doing so, there will be a feature called ‘v-course’ (or virtual course), allowing any Supplier to pull the course from the third-party SCoC training platform and utilize it within their own LMS. This enables Microsoft to track Supplier compliance to the training obligation while allowing Supplier’s the autonomy to leverage their own LMS.

The Microsoft pre-access training is in addition to the annual Supplier training obligation. It is the responsibility of the Supplier to meet the annual training requirement for each External Staff engaged in services for Microsoft, regardless if the Microsoft pre-access training was also completed that year. Some suppliers choose to simply run all their Microsoft workers through the training during a certain month each year – making it easier than trying to figure out last training completions for their v-employees (who automatically receive SCoC training when they onboard with Microsoft). This is not new, as all suppliers should have been doing this previously. The only thing new is that we are requiring suppliers to use the 3rd party training platform to manage this. For further questions on the Microsoft pre-access training, please review the Pre-access training tab in the FAQs.

Yes, they will still be required as the Microsoft managed SCoC training is an automated step in the onboarding process. It is an automated pre-access requirement that the SCoC training must be completed prior to receiving any access credentials regardless of last SCoC completion. This step/process is required for every new position number created.

They are still required to complete SCoC training annually. Their employer (Microsoft Supplier) has the responsibility to ensure they are trained utilizing Microsoft’s third-party SCoC training platform.

The SCoC training takes roughly 35-45 minutes to complete.

Yes, the training content (as well as the training platform) are localized in the same 26  languages as the Code itself: Albanian, Armenian, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

Contact scocofc@microsoft.com if you have questions or comments related to the SCoC training requirement.

In 2016 the SCoC training requirement was updated. Microsoft mandated SCoC training as a pre-access requirement. All External Staff who are onboarding through Microsoft systems, requiring access, must complete training prior to being granted access to Microsoft’s Corporate Network and/or buildings. As part of the External Staff setup process, External Staff workers receive an email notification containing a link to the e-learning training site (our 3rd party training host) and requesting that they complete the 45-minute online training. Once the External Staff worker completes the training, the process for granting access to Microsoft’s Corporate Network and/or buildings will proceed.

Note: In addition to the onboarding/pre-access training requirement managed by Microsoft, Suppliers are accountable to train all employees and agents working on Microsoft matters on an annual basis, utilizing Microsoft’s third-party SCoC training platform. Please explore the FAQs in the SCoC training tab for more information.

Yes. Their employer (Microsoft Supplier) has the responsibility to ensure they are trained annually, utilizing Microsoft’s third party SCoC training platform. Please explore the FAQs in the SCoC training tab for more information.

The original training request email is sent directly to the External Staff (to email address provided in setup tool). Forty-eight (48) to 72 hours following new position creation, External Operations (ExtOps) will send email to the Microsoft Sponsor and Requestor as to status of setup (RAA missing, SCoC needs completing, etc.).

Within Forty-eight (48) to 72 hours following new position creation, External Operations (ExtOps) will send an email to the Microsoft Sponsor and Requestor on status of setup. Fifteen (15) days after setup, if action is still required that has not been closed out, ExtOps will close the position.

Average processing time is 24 to 48 hours from the time that the request is received. Please note that this includes checking many factors, including the Resource Access Agreement (RAA) completion, SCoC training completion, eligibility status at Microsoft, policy adherence/violations, previous history, previous records, and so forth. The training requirement takes roughly 35-45 minutes to complete.

The email is generated out of Headtrax/Microsoft (same timing as when the Resource Access Agreement (RAA) email is sent). SCoC emails will be sent from extops@microsoft.com. The email contains the position number and the link to the online training, which will direct the staff to a registration process allowing them to access the training.

You can check status of the pre-access onboarding training individually. You will just need position# and/or email used to register.

Visit the Onboarding training status portal.

Note: If status is not found, it means the individual has not registered for the training. Please follow up directly with the individual to ensure that they received the training email (from extops@microsoft.com) or that it did not go to their junk mail folder.

Contact support@elearningconsulting.com if you encounter technical difficulties during registration.

Support inquiries related to accessing the course will be responded to by the next business day.

The position number is listed in the original training requirement email that comes from Microsoft External Operations (extops@microsoft.com) during the External Staff setup process.

Internet access is required.

Browser: Although the course is best viewed in Edge and Internet Explorer 11, it is also compatible with other browsers such as Firefox, Safari, and Chrome, including Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

If you are still getting an error when registering for the course, please do the following:

• If you are using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, please launch a new browser window in InPrivate mode and then register
• If you are using Chrome, please launch a new browser in incognito mode and then register

If you continue to have a problem, contact support@elearningconsulting.com and send a screenshot that shows the problem.

Passwords resets can be requested directly from the registration site or at: https://msstaff.course4you.com/Account/ForgotPassword.

Please verify this is your current/new position number. If this is, please check the following:

• Situation 1 (most common): If you have registered previously, you must use that same registration username to log in under “Already have an account? Log in”. You cannot register as a ‘New User’ in this case. If you cannot remember the email used for your username in your initial registration, email: support@e-learningconsulting.com.
• Situation 2: The above does not apply. You may be blocked from registering because your position number has been incorrectly registered. Contact scoc@microsoft.com to resolve this situation.