Microsoft has informed its staff that they are all in line to receive a $1,500 pandemic bonus, but “all” doesn’t actually mean everyone who counts Microsoft as a parent company will get the cash gift.
As The Verge reports, Microsoft’s Chief People Office, Kathleen Hogan, announced the $1,500 one-time bonus in an internal memo, stating it was “in recognition of the unique and challenging fiscal year that Microsoft just completed.” However, the bonus isn’t for everyone.
Microsoft owns LinkedIn, GitHub, and its most recent high-profile acquisition ZeniMax, but none of the employees at these companies qualify for the bonus. In total, the bonus works out to around a $200 million gift to Microsoft staff.
The bonus is another sign that we are nearing the end of this pandemic and will slowly start to see employees return to the office. Last year, Microsoft decided to allow some employees to work from home permanently, but doesn’t expect to fully reopen its offices until September. As for its retail stores, they are closed permanently.
