Microsoft Employees Abuse Software Purchase Programme

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ZDNet UK is reporting that Microsoft UK has fired 7 employees from the global technical support centre and services team. The employees have been dismissed after it was discovered that they were abusing system privileges, network access rights and obtained passwords of other Microsoft employees. Unlike Microsoft US, Microsoft UK have a programme which allows employees to purchase the latest Microsoft technologies internally on their intranet. Microsoft US has an on-site staff "shop" where, although limited, employees can obtain software like Windows XP for $30.

Microsoft isn't confirming whether the employees have been arrested but in a statement via email confirmed the following, ""A thorough investigation found evidence to show that abuses had occurred which are contrary to Microsoft values and policy, and after a careful investigation Microsoft had no choice but to dismiss the employees involved."

In 2003, a Microsoft employee was arrested for stealing software from the company; Richard Gregg swindled the company to the tune of $17m.

View: ZDNet UK Article

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#1 WinXPro on 11 Jan 2005 - 12:39

Good Job Microsoft

#2 jivemastert on 11 Jan 2005 - 14:22

im trying to think of a smart ass comment and nothing is coming to mind.

i guess this is good if you are microsoft?

i would like to know how they abused the employee purchase site. i mean i have an idea as to what they were doing, but i still want to know.

#3 quanta on 11 Jan 2005 - 15:17

Hey Tom, WinXP Pro isn't $30 anymore at the MS Company Store...they've hiked up the price on everything last quarter. I think WinXP Pro is now $40 or so.

(1 reply) #4 Dixon on 11 Jan 2005 - 16:43

See if Windows XP was 30 or 40 dollars I just might have licensed software on my computer. I find however the license is the most expensive part...

#4.1 shao on 12 Jan 2005 - 05:56

but then all those other parts and components are useless without an os.

#5 Mgs0008b221 on 12 Jan 2005 - 19:50

Ah, $40 Windows Xp... *drools*

#6 TC17 on 12 Jan 2005 - 20:29

Microsoft gives WindowsXP away for free to certain countries and students. So I don't know what the big deal is by the employees paying $30. Everyone else pays and arm and a leg for the software.

If they are an employee I would hope they would have gotten the software for free. Its not like it actually costs Microsoft anything like a piece of hardware does.

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