14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has asked partners and suppliers employing staff for working on its behalf to offer all contract workers benefits in the form of 15 days of paid leave at any time during the year.
A report by The Seattle Times cites Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, as saying that such a decision would help not only those workers but also the business itself, because productivity would be greatly enhanced if contract employees also have benefits.
Previously, the software giant looked into the vendor policy to make changes that would help contract workers, but the company is now working to make the very same modifications in the relationship with suppliers.
Right now, it's not yet clear how many contract workers suppliers actually have for Microsoft products, but worldwide, Redmond employees account for more than 120,000 people after the acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services firm last year.
Tens of thousands of contract workers
Smith explained that accurate figures cannot be provided right now because the number of contract workers could vary by project or time of year, but data provided by the aforementioned source reveals that, in 2009, no less than 80,000 contract workers were involved in Microsoft projects in addition to full-time employees who were already working for the company.
According to the existing proposal, the 15 days of paid leave can be divided in two different ways: 10 days of paid vacation and 5 days of sick leave, or a full 15-day time off without splitting them.
Right now, it's not yet clear how and when all these changes could come into effect, but there's no doubt that such a proposal should be applied as soon as possible because this would really help contract workers in the first place.
The new policy is said to be targeted at suppliers who have more than 50 workers who have been employed for more than 9 months and participate in Microsoft projects.