Microsoft survey flags managerial problems

Microsoft employees told the company’s latest internal surveys that they feel more energized and empowered in their jobs, while becoming less positive about the coaching, feedback and motivation they receive from managers, according to internal results reported on June 2. The findings were described in an internal memo from Chief People Officer Amy Coleman and first reported by Business Insider, then summarized by IBTimes UK and HR Grapevine. The split comes as Microsoft has been reshaping parts of its workforce policies, tightening performance expectations and making broader organizational changes. The result is a picture of stronger engagement at the company level and weaker confidence in the day-to-day management experience. ### What did employees say had improved? Microsoft’s twice-yearly Employee Signals survey showed the company’s “Thriving” score rose three points to 79, according to the internal memo described by IBTimes UK and HR Grapevine. The survey drew responses from 71% of employees and generated nearly 265,000 comments, the reports said. Coleman said the score reflected employees feeling “energized and empowered while doing meaningful work.” (ibtimes.co.uk) The strongest results were tied to security awareness, team inclusion and cultural alignment. HR Grapevine said the highest-rated item was the statement “I prioritize addressing security challenges in my role,” which scored 88, while team inclusion scored 86 and a question on whether teams reflect Microsoft’s culture also scored 86. (ibtimes.co.uk) ### Where did the management scores weaken? A separate annual survey on managers and leaders found that overall confidence in managers held steady at 85%, but several practical support measures declined, according to the same internal memo. IBTimes UK reported that coaching through day-to-day challenges fell five points to 76, giving clear feedback to help employees improve fell four points to 79, and motivating employees to do their best work slipped two points to 82. (hrgrapevine.com) IBTimes UK said the three weakest categories all pointed to the same pattern: employees still viewed managers as broadly effective, but less helpful in the areas closest to execution. That distinction matters because the falling scores were concentrated in behaviors employees rely on during change rather than in broad confidence measures. ### What else in the survey looked uneven? (ibtimes.co.uk) Employees also gave weaker marks to career development, productivity support and clarity, according to HR Grapevine. The lowest-scoring items included opportunities to broaden experience in a current role, at 79, and whether workers have what they need to be productive in today’s work environment, at 80. IBTimes UK separately said employees were less positive about clarity on how their work connects to wider organizational goals. (ibtimes.co.uk) Amy Coleman acknowledged the strain directly in the memo. “Many of you shared feelings of uncertainty and pressure as the work evolves,” she wrote, according to HR Grapevine, adding that the leadership team was committed to more transparency, more frequent communication and more context. ### What was happening inside Microsoft at the same time? (ibtimes.co.uk) Business Insider reporting cited by IBTimes UK said the survey landed during a period of higher internal pressure, including tougher performance expectations and changes to the HR organization responsible for pay and promotions. Separate Business Insider reporting in March said Coleman had announced a sweeping overhaul of the human-resources team that handles compensation and policy for Microsoft’s more than 220,000 employees. (hrgrapevine.com) In April, Microsoft also launched its first voluntary retirement program for eligible U.S. employees, according to CNBC and GeekWire. CNBC reported the offer was open to workers at the senior director level and below whose age and years of service add up to 70 or more, while GeekWire said the package included cash payments, healthcare coverage and continued stock vesting. (ibtimes.co.uk) ### Why does the gap matter inside a reorganization? The survey results point to a gap between company-level momentum and local management capacity. IBTimes UK reported that employees felt more positive about meaningful work and cultural alignment even as ratings fell for coaching and feedback, the parts of management that shape day-to-day execution. (cnbc.com) Microsoft declined to comment to Business Insider, according to HR Grapevine. The company’s next visible steps on the issues raised in the memo are likely to come through the transparency and communication measures Coleman said leadership had committed to provide. (hrgrapevine.com) (ibtimes.co.uk)