Microsoft gives a wide range of benefits to its employees but the employee discount program is a standout. From some exclusive and substantial savings on Microsoft hardware to discounts on software for both personal and family use, Microsoft employees are offered access to a variety of resources to help them enhance their professional and personal lives. I have in this post covered the essentials of Microsoft’s employee discount program which includes eligible products, typical discount rates, and what are the strategies and tips for maximizing these valuable benefits.
Microsoft’s employee discount program provides a valuable opportunity for staff members to access top-tier technology and software at much lower prices which enhances both their personal and professional lives. Starting from amazing discounts on popular devices such as Surface and Xbox to the exclusive rates on Microsoft 365 and productivity software, employees are enabled to enjoy a variety and wide range of benefits specifically designed to make Microsoft’s advanced solutions more easily accessible.
Apart from this, the Friends and Family discounts also allows employees to further extend and share these perks with their loved ones which creates a broader impact. I have explained various factors related to the Microsoft employee discount program in this post. Read through and understand what is the eligibility criteria, how to avail, what are the other benefits, exclusions and discounts and how to leverage them by planning strategically.
What is the Microsoft Employee Discount?
Microsoft gives a generous employee discount program that enables its workforce to buy Microsoft products and services at lower prices. The program has been designed to reward employees, enhance brand loyalty, and make premium technology easily accessible for personal and family use. Eligible individuals including full-time and part-time employees, and in some cases, seasonal contractors and interns are always eligible to leverage from the Microsoft employee discount program.
The discounts are further categorized across multiple categories which allows employees to access several software, hardware, and subscription-based services at a lesser cost. The program mainly includes many options for popular products like the Microsoft Surface line, Xbox consoles, and Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Employees can normally apply discounts to both software and hardware products which cover almost everything ranging from essential productivity tools to high-end gaming systems.
Microsoft offers employee discounts on many health club memberships, stock purchasing, Microsoft products via the company store, and other nationwide discounts at restaurants, travel, spa services, pet care, car repair, and special offers along with discounts for technology, arts, entertainment, and sporting events.
Also, read Boot Barn Employee Discount | All You Need To Know
How Much Is Microsoft Employee Discount Program?
Microsoft employee discount rates vary across products, with software usually discounted at 20-50%, and hardware options such as the Microsoft Surface and Xbox mostly receiving around 10-20% off the retail price. Microsoft 365, Teams, and Azure services often run frequent offers on a subscription-based discount which enables employees to access these services at a fraction of the cost.
Typical Discounts by Product Type;
- Software: 20-50% off
- Hardware (Surface, accessories): 10-20% off
- Xbox Consoles & Games: 15-20% off
- Microsoft 365 and Azure Services: Subscription discounts of up to 30%
Apart from all this Employees can also leverage the advantage of many exclusive deals which are available at Microsoft Store locations, both in-person and online. These benefits usually include access to many special promotions, hands-on product trials, and occasionally, early and exclusive releases along with many exclusive store events. Microsoft Store discounts are mostly seasonal and give an opportunity to buy the latest products at highly competitive prices.
Also, read Autozone Employee Discount | All You Need To Know
How To Use Microsoft Employee Discounts?
Accessing these Microsoft employee discounts is simple and straightforward, often through the Microsoft employee portal or the company’s intranet. After you are successfully logged into your employee accounts, users can easily navigate to the “Benefits” or “Discount” section. From there, you can browse eligible products, check discount rates, and quickly place orders for the products or services you need. Employees can also easily apply these discounts while they shop directly at Microsoft Store locations or when accessing many of their partnered services.
What Is Eligible Under Microsoft Employee Discounts Program
Likewise, in many other companies, not every service or product is offered under the employee discount program and there are some listed merchandise as mentioned below;
Some of Microsoft’s most popular products are included in their employee discount program, which are;
- Surface Devices: Surface laptops, tablets, and accessories.
- Xbox Series: Consoles, games, and Xbox Game Pass.
- Microsoft 365: Discounted personal and family subscriptions.
- Office Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other important productivity tools.
- Azure: Subscriptions for personal development along with cloud solutions.
These discounts enable employees to stay up-to-date with Microsoft’s top-notch technology which makes it easier to integrate such advanced approaches and tech solutions into their daily lives.
Microsoft’s employee discount program often is also extended to the Friends and Family program which enables employees to share their part of savings with their loved ones. In normal cases, employees receive a unique discount link or code, which they are allowed to further pass along to a limited number(specified) of friends or family members, who can then easily buy products such as Microsoft Office, Xbox consoles, or Surface devices at a much-decreased rate. This perk is designed to encourage more people to experience Microsoft products firsthand.
Understand below what it covers under different programs;
- Microsoft Employee Discounts at Partnered Retailers
Microsoft has partnered with a wide range of third-party retailers which also allows their employees to use their discounts apart from Microsoft’s own stores. Some items are particularly available at partnered retail stores, specifically with collaborations for certain Surface models, gaming accessories, and also even third-party peripherals such as headphones. Discount rates and availability mostly vary by location, so employees are suggested to review current partnerships in the employee portal.
- Microsoft Employee Discounts on Microsoft 365 and Office Products
Microsoft 365 is an important tool for personal productivity and collaboration, and employees can easily buy it at a much-discounted rate for their personal use. With family subscriptions also being made available at discounted rates, employees can leverage the chance to extend Microsoft’s productivity suite to their households which allows multiple users to access tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Microsoft Home Use Program (HUP)
Microsoft’s Home Use Program (HUP) is an additional factor for employees to buy select software at a discounted rate for their home use. The HUP provides discounted licenses for products such as Microsoft Office which makes it quite easy to access Microsoft tools outside of work. To access these discounts, employees usually have to verify their status via the Microsoft employee portal.
- Microsoft Employee Discounts for Xbox and Gaming Products
Microsoft employees usually receive exclusive discounts on Xbox consoles, games, accessories, and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions which further make it easier to always stay updated with varying gaming trends. Employees benefit from reduced prices on the trending latest consoles, exclusive in-game content, along membership discounts is greatly enhance their overall gaming experience.
Also, read Dicks Sporting Goods Employee Discounts
Additional Microsoft Employee Benefits
Apart from the Microsoft employee benefits, for employees who need software for personal or family use, Microsoft also offers deep discounts on popular productivity tools and applications, such as Microsoft Office. Through licensing options that enable home use, Microsoft’s employee discount program is also something that supports a work-life balance and enables employees to seamlessly integrate advanced software into their personal lives.
Beyond product discounts, Microsoft also provides a well-rounded benefits package;
- Stock Purchase Program: Employees can purchase Microsoft stock at a discount.
- Health and Wellness: Comprehensive healthcare, fitness benefits, along wellness programs.
- Professional Development: Tuition assistance, courses, and on-the-job training.
These benefits are designed to establish and enhance a supportive work environment where employees have the tools and resources required for growth and wellness.
Limitations And Exclusions of Microsoft Employee Discounts
Though Microsoft offers a wide variety of discounts, specific products might not be eligible for discounts, and some may also come with certain restrictions on quantities. Typically, some of the luxury or third-party items, gift cards, and services sourced from partner companies are mostly excluded from employee discounts.
Microsoft runs this employee discount program in many different countries, though specific benefits vary by region and depend upon several certain factors. International employees must also check their local employee portal for more details and information they need on available discounts, and whether certain products are accessible in their region or not.
Also, read Alo Employee Discount | Everything You Need To Know
How To Maximize Microsoft Employee Discounts?
Yes, you must understand how to utilize the offered employee discounts strategically to make the most of it. Our experts have curated some tips for you to understand below;
To get the most out of Microsoft’s discount program;
- Timing: Wait for seasonal promotions or for exclusive employee events.
- Bundling: Buying products such as Xbox consoles and Game Pass subscriptions together always could enhance value.
- Gifting: Leverage the advantage of Friends and Family discounts.
Comparison of Microsoft’s Employee Discount With Competitors
While comparing Microsoft employee discount programs to many other tech companies, I found that Microsoft stands apart because of the robust range of employee discounts, notably on hardware and software products. Another thing that differentiates it from its competitors is the extended benefits for family or friends, whereas most companies don’t allow this. Many tech companies only focus on specific benefits, but Microsoft’s employee discount program has been designed to cover an extensive range of categories.
Apart from offering fat paychecks, tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, and many others are known for the extravagant perks that they give to their employees. These include free meals, health insurance, paid holidays, and many more. I found a report that says about Cupertino-based Apple creating a network of private health clinics for their employees and their families. It’s not something small as over 123,000 people are employed by Apple worldwide.
Below are some such unusual incentives which are provided by Microsoft, Twitter, Google, Apple, Flipkart, and other tech companies, understand below;
- Twitter: Yoga and improv classes
The San Francisco-based company reportedly is offering its employees lesser-known perks such as on-site game rooms and improv classes. The micro-blogging giant’s offices are reportedly built to be quite health-conscious which includes activities like free boot-camp and yoga classes. There’s also Kombucha tea available on tap.
- Google: On-site haircut, free laundry, and Nap Pods
An employee at Google’s Mountain View campus has reported that they can quickly get a haircut on-site. There are also Nap Pods thoughtfully designed for employees to take those power naps. Another interesting benefit is free laundry services. These are over and above the several serious perks such as food on the house, free medical insurance, and more provided by the company.
- Microsoft: Treehouses for employees
While healthcare is an essential benefit, many of the other technology companies are also offering some unusual perks. One example is Microsoft building treehouses for its employees around its Redmond Campus to help its employees to be more creative and focused and encourage happiness. Microsoft has quite innovatively built these treehouse workspaces with embedded tech at its Redmond campus that are serving as meeting spaces and boosting a more casual work environment.
- Apple: Discount on Apple products, benefits even to part-time employees
According to a report on the jobs website Glassdoor, every year Apple employees are offered a 25% discount on an iPod, iPad, or computer. Most of the Apple software can also be easily purchased with a whooping discount of 50%, along with Apple Care also comes with a 25% discount. Most of the benefits are also available for their part-time employees.
Also, read What is Petco Employee Discount | Everything You Need To Know
Conclusion
Overall, Microsoft’s discount program when strategically and thoughtfully combined with its additional employee benefits such as stock options and wellness support, makes Microsoft stand apart and a strong competitive employer within the tech industry. By understanding and gaining the knack for the merchandise and different services and the scope of available discounts one can easily know how to access them and leverage the advantage of seasonal and exclusive offers which their employees can use to potentially maximize their savings and enjoy the best that Microsoft has to offer to its employees.