How Do We Spell "Benefits"? T.L.C. At Microsoft, people are the source of our energy. Creative people from all types of backgrounds, bringing passion and new ideas, meeting challenges, and realizing their potential. Our benefits plan and resources are designed to keep our most important assets - our employees - healthy, happy, and moving ahead at optimal speed. Microsoft benefits are generous and personalized, to give our employees the coverage they need to keep them healthy and happy. From our Stay Fit program to comprehensive health and vision care programs, Microsoft lets you pick and choose the options that are right for you. Maybe you need braces, are planning to adopt a child, or have a special need for family counseling. Whatever the case, we have you covered. Investment Benefits Health Benefits Family and Parenting Benefits Microsoft Extras

Coverage

Most Microsoft benefits outlined below cover the employee, spouse or same-sex domestic partner, and eligible children or dependents.

Investment Benefits

Microsoft provides the following options to help you develop a financially secure future.

Savings Plus 401(k) Plan
Lets you defer up to 50 percent of your pretax salary dollars. Microsoft matches 50 cents on every dollar up to 6 percent of your contribution. You can also contribute to a Roth 401(k) Plan on an after-tax basis.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Lets you use from 1 percent to 15 percent of your after-tax salary to buy Microsoft stock at a 10 percent discount.

Discounted Financial Services
You can take advantage of a suite of discounted banking and financial services - offered at special discounted rates. The suite includes:
- Brokerage Services
- Banking Services
- Financial planning and education opportunities

Credit Unions
Includes checking accounts, bank cards, and competitive interest rates.

Health Benefits

Medical Care
Microsoft provides the following medical plans to you and your family members:

Preferred Plus Plan
The Preferred Plus Plan allows you to receive services from any licensed provider, but the plan provides a higher level of benefits for services you receive from providers who have joined the Premera Blue Cross network of preferred providers. The Preferred Plus Plan features:
- 100% in-network coverage for employees and covered dependents
- No payroll contribution
- No deductible
- 100% coverage for most prescription drugs
- No prescription drug formulary

Group Health Cooperative Plan (WA only)
The Group Health Cooperative Plan allows you to choose your own Group Health Cooperative doctor and enjoy same-day appointments at any Group Health Cooperative medical center. You can also choose from hundreds of Group Health Cooperative specialists without a referral. The Group Health Cooperative Plan features:
- 100% coverage for employees and covered dependents
- No payroll contribution
- No deductible
- 100% coverage for most prescription drugs

Health Savings Plan
The Health Savings Plan, featuring a Health Savings Account (HSA), provides both traditional medical coverage and a tax-free way to help you build savings for future medical expenses. Microsoft contributes cash to your HSA each pay period, building a portable health fund for the future. The Health Savings Plan features a high annual deductible and an out-of-pocket maximum. The out-of-pocket maximum protects you against large medical expenses by paying 100% of charges above a certain limit.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account
Lowers your taxable income by reimbursing eligible and out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses on a pretax basis up to $5,000 per year.

Vision Care
Covers one annual eye exam and reimbursement for one pair of glasses or contacts per person, per calendar year. Beginning January 1, 2007, Microsoft is pleased to be one of the first employers to help offset the cost of LASIK eye surgery.

Dental Care
Choose a basic plan or a plan that pays a higher level of benefits, including orthodontia.

Life Insurance
Coverage ranges from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of six times your annual base pay or $1,000,000, whichever is less. Plans are available for your spouse/same-sex domestic partner and eligible children. Excellent group rates are available.

Disability
Includes short-term disability if you are unable to work for an extended period of time, long-term disability after you are unable to work for more than 168 days. Coverage can equal up to 60 percent of your monthly base pay.

Stay Fit Program
Offers a paid health club membership in WA, CA, NC, ND, and TX or taxable income to apply toward your own health and fitness program. Employees in other states may find health club discounts available on the Microsoft PRIME site.

MicrosoftHealth.com
Developed exclusively for Microsoft employees and family members in partnership with WebMD, this innovative health care portal allows you and your family to access Microsoft benefits information, order and refill prescriptions, view medical and dental claims, manage personal health information, and search reliable health and medical information.

24-hour Health Line
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide useful, easy-to-understand health information that can help you make appropriate healthcare decisions.

Employee Assistance Program
Offers confidential counseling services 24/7.

Family and Parenting Benefits

Paid Maternity & Parental Leave
New birth mothers are eligible for eight weeks of paid maternity leave. In addition, new mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents receive up to four weeks of paid parental leave. Additional unpaid leave is optional.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Lets you lower your taxable income by reimbursing eligible day care and elder care expenses on a pretax basis - up to $5,000 per year, per household.

Adoption Assistance
Reimburses up to $5,000 per child for costs associated with adopting a child.

Child Care Discounts
Tuition discounts of 20% are available with nationwide providers, for infants through school-age children. Many smaller providers also offer discounts through the Prime program.

Family Backup Care
This nationwide program provides center-based or in-home care services when you experience a temporary breakdown in your normal care arrangements.

Resource and Referral Service
Free referral services are available to assist you with decisions regarding child care, elder care, and parenting.

Microsoft Extras

Microsoft has more perks than Seattle has coffeehouses. Below are some examples.

Paid Vacation
You will accrue three weeks annually to start. You then accrue four weeks after six years of completed service and five weeks after 12 years of completed service.

Group Legal Plan
Provides assistance with routine legal services such as real estate, adoption, divorce, bankruptcy, and wills.

Tuition Assistance Program
Reimburses tuition fees and textbooks for approved work-related courses. We also provide in-house training programs for technical and nontechnical skills.

Prime Program
Provides significant nationwide savings - up to 25 percent - on brand-name products and services, including automotive services, computers and electronics, home and garden, restaurants, shopping, sporting goods, travel, and local attractions.

Matching Charitable Donations
Charitable donations are matched by Microsoft, up to $12,000 per year. Microsoft also matches the time that you volunteer in the community - donating $17 per hour to eligible organizations.

Company Store
Offers substantial discounts on Microsoft products.

Microsoft Art Collection
Brings together contemporary art from around the world for the benefit and enjoyment of Microsoft employees. To date the collection comprises approximately 2,800 works on view throughout the company's facilities.

Free Beverages
Choose from a variety of free drinks while working at Microsoft. From Starbucks machines in all campus kitchens for fresh-ground coffee, to juice, chocolate milk, and soda, you will never go thirsty.

On-site Convenience Services
Free grocery delivery, on-site dry cleaning and laundry services, convenience shopping, and dinners to go help you enjoy time saving conveniences.