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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/175168_flexpass27.html
Microsoft contract workers lose FlexPasses
Company defends cost-cutting measure as common practice
By JANE HADLEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
The effort to get commuters out of their cars and into buses or van pools suffered a setback recently when Microsoft told its roughly 5,500 Seattle-area contract employees that it would no longer provide free FlexPasses.
Full-time regular Microsoft employees will continue to be eligible to receive for free the $72 per month FlexPasses, which are used mostly to ride the bus but also for van pools and Sounder rail service.
But employees who work at Microsoft on contract either as independent vendors or through employment agencies will lose the subsidy as of June 30
These guys are supposed to be leaders in our community and to cut this kind of perk is a bad precedent.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/175168_flexpass27.html
Microsoft contract workers lose FlexPasses
Company defends cost-cutting measure as common practice
By JANE HADLEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
The effort to get commuters out of their cars and into buses or van pools suffered a setback recently when Microsoft told its roughly 5,500 Seattle-area contract employees that it would no longer provide free FlexPasses.
Full-time regular Microsoft employees will continue to be eligible to receive for free the $72 per month FlexPasses, which are used mostly to ride the bus but also for van pools and Sounder rail service.
But employees who work at Microsoft on contract either as independent vendors or through employment agencies will lose the subsidy as of June 30
These guys are supposed to be leaders in our community and to cut this kind of perk is a bad precedent.
Microsoft and other companies in Seattle are facing huge traffic problems and the city has done little in the past regarding public transportation. In trying to reverse the past, companies are forcing the public into using mass transit by cutting back their subsidizes on motor transport. It's getting to the point where traffic along the highways have become so congested, Microsoft is moving jobs to other cities and out of the country, Overall, I consider this a good policy. Moving people out of cars and into mass transit is the way to go. Lets hope the city expends it's bus service and starts building light-rails and commuter trains.
I hope they replace this Flexpass with a "Transit-Check" type system we use in Manhattan. The company I work for offers Transit-Checks where $100.00 dollars pre-tax comes out of our paychecks and we can use this "check" to buy bus and rail tickets. It can save you several hundred dollars a year in public transportation. Overall, I save almost 20% off all my subway rides!
the problem here is they are taking a benifit away and it is one that just about every major employer in this area has. Traffic is bad in this area I live though it on a daily basis taking this benifit away is a step backwards for the region.
That Transit check system you talk about is available to all employers it is the law. This was a free bus pass, that otherwise could cost up to $130 a month depending on where they live.
I hope they replace this Flexpass with a "Transit-Check" type system we use in Manhattan. The company I work for offers Transit-Checks where $100.00 dollars pre-tax comes out of our paychecks and we can use this "check" to buy bus and rail tickets. It can save you several hundred dollars a year in public transportation. Overall, I save almost 20% off all my subway rides!
What would be cool would be if you could use the transit-check on bike parts!
Seriously, some reward for bike commuting would be nice -- it saves a heck
of a lot of impact on the traffic grid.
Hey anyone who works on the Redmond campus knows who the OASIS guys are... you know the moving guys? Well, I was one of those guys for a while when I was finishing up my degree and I can tell you the biggest benefit in doing that job (besides all the free soda) was the flexpass. We got paid jack squat and had to take an unbelieveable amount of BS from the people we moved. I guess a lot of those contract workers will have to suck it up and start paying, but a lot will go on to different jobs ie: the DUI guys and those who can't afford cars or bus passes. And, as a side note a lot of us movers were and as far as I know still are uhmm "having relations" with the receptionists, so some of the movers will still be getting flexpasses.
The effort to get commuters out of their cars and into buses or van pools suffered a setback recently when Microsoft told its roughly 5,500 Seattle-area contract employees that it would no longer provide free FlexPasses.
My employer quit subsidizing bus passes, too. Probably budget constraints.
A smart move for Microsoft to increase profits. But I have to wonder if Microsoft's highest-paid employee, Bill Gates, couldn't just pay the difference out of chump change just to make a point.
Who knows, if Bill spun it right, he might wind up a hero: "Microsoft's Bill Gates Values Environment Over Profits."
are they hot?
Some are very hot most are average to above average and a few are gifted with wonderful personalities.
As for this being a good money saving idea for Microsoft, I would debate that. The surrounding streets are overloaded with traffic as it is. The parking situation at Microsoft is terrible despite the many parking garages and lots. That all adds up in downtime for employees looking for parking, maintenance of the lots, expanding lots, accidents, and so on.... I think microsoft has peaked and is now on the beginning of its downhill slide. I'm not saying that Microsoft is in trouble, but it is far from the freewheeling days of the early nineties. They DO have some very nice showers for employees who bike though.
I once heard a rumour that Microsoft used to give their employees a one-time "bike-bonus" of $300 for commuting to work by bike. I'm not sure if it's true or not. Can anyone confirm this? If it's true then kudos to Microsoft. Although $300 is not a whole lot it can get you a cheap entry level bike or help subsidise a nicer commuter.
I never heard of a bike bonus, but it sounds like something they would do on a limited basis.... Maybe give each admin $1200.00 in their budget for bikers and dole it out to those who prove they consistently bike to work?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/175168_flexpass27.html
Microsoft contract workers lose FlexPasses
Company defends cost-cutting measure as common practice
By JANE HADLEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
The effort to get commuters out of their cars and into buses or van pools suffered a setback recently when Microsoft told its roughly 5,500 Seattle-area contract employees that it would no longer provide free FlexPasses.
Full-time regular Microsoft employees will continue to be eligible to receive for free the $72 per month FlexPasses, which are used mostly to ride the bus but also for van pools and Sounder rail service.
But employees who work at Microsoft on contract either as independent vendors or through employment agencies will lose the subsidy as of June 30
These guys are supposed to be leaders in our community and to cut this kind of perk is a bad precedent.
Not to fear, most of the contracting houses, like Volt are picking up the tab and offering this a benefit to contractors who work at MS. My contract is done on Wednesday, and since our buses only hold 2 bikes, I only count on the bus in the event of a flat.
They DO have some very nice showers for employees who bike though.
Word on the street. No more clean towels at Microsoft. Bring your own or arrive at your office dripping wet. :D
I never heard of a bike bonus, but it sounds like something they would do on a limited basis.... Maybe give each admin $1200.00 in their budget for bikers and dole it out to those who prove they consistently bike to work?
When I owned my bike shop near the Microsoft campus, for their summer interns, they got $300 to buy a bike or use as subsidy for other transport. Re: flex passes, the cancellation of these passes probably affects the lower paid workers as the monied ones on a whole take great pleasure in driving to work the most expensive sports car they can afford. On the other hand, there are a number of 'softies who are very dedicated bike commuters who ride to work in foul and fair weather. The presence of the Microsoft campus has probably helped extend the bike trail system insofar as county funding goes.
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