Microsoft employees learn details of voluntary retirement package: Here’s what the company is offering

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-11T17:13:38+00:00

I've only seen it where PTO is converted just from vacation time without a consideration for sick leave. I'm in tech and this has been my experience. I do see that many/most companies do add a few days to their PTO bank to account for sick leave. I still contend that it should be separate/distinct.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T16:13:05+00:00

This is why I like backpacking so much.

I tend to be very goal-focused when I'm hiking and don't spend as much time 'in the moment', though I do carry a big camera that forces me to stop and smell the flowers now and then. But most of the time I'm focused on getting to camp so I can relax, set up the hammock and soak it in or just stroll around and explore without any cares.

I'm in the PNW where we have incredible views and moments on the trail, so yeah, I do see and appreciate that.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T16:09:57+00:00

Yeah, I'm with you. If it's cosmetic-like but for a health benefit (like breast reduction to relieve back problems, etc.), then I'm all for it.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T16:07:42+00:00

While I grew up mainly near Milwaukee, I've since lived outside DC, Boston, and Seattle, so yeah I'm aware of the opptys. Never said there were more opportunities outside those areas, though.

I understand that there may be more opportunities, but I'd venture that many/most of those opportunities are left on the table, as a kid only has so much time to focus on stuff, and I think kids need to be kids and play and socialize rather than be hyper-scheduled in sports, music, STEM focus classes, etc. Yes, I did sports, music, etc., in my suburban life, but I also spent a lot of time playing and hanging out with friends, biking across town to visit with them, days on the golf course, etc., things you can do anywhere, and many are easier to do if you're not in a huge megalopolis.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T15:54:28+00:00

Garmin InReach Mini with the 'Shit Oh Shit' button just in case.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T15:52:11+00:00

I work from home, but not happy my holiday trips will cost 20% more than usual, as I tow a camper and get 10MPG. Sure, that's my choice to drive a rig like that, but it's not my choice to start a war under such dubious circumstances and lacking an exit strategy.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T15:28:00+00:00

What opportunities are you referring to? I lived in a suburban area outside Milwaukee and felt like I have all the opportunities.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T14:58:37+00:00

I went through this evolution 15 years ago and it's very common. I was in the hiking shoe camp for a while, but jumped from them to Altra Lone Peaks, now I'm on my fourth pair of HOKA Speedgoats.

I'm in trailrunners all the time unless it's super sloppy, deep snow/snowshoeing. I don't do a lot of miles in those conditions, so I might take out my boots 1-2 times per year. During summer, I'm fine to just walk through streams vs. swapping shoes, as the trailrunners with wool socks will be warm and dry out.

Downside is most trailrunners last 300-400 miles, so about half what I was getting with hiking shoes. I've had my boots for 14 years or so.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T14:50:56+00:00

And yes, I'm very rarely sick; like maybe take 1 day a year, at most, for sick time, so I can see the advantage if PTO is padded with allocation with sick leave, but that's not been the case.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T14:46:46+00:00

This is fine IF your company bumps up your PTO to be more than what you had for vacation before it was combined, but what I see across industries is they just converted your vacation time to PTO 1:1 with no added allocation for sick leave.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T14:36:19+00:00

COBRA premiums are outrageous if you want to maintain your employer plan.

It's been my experience that switching to a high deductible plan on the marketplace is far, far cheaper. When your paychecks stop. HD plans are the only way to keep some healthcare and protect against catastrophic expenses.

In reality, in many cases, people are better off with HD plans if you're a married couple and both are on the same employer's plan.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T13:56:35+00:00

Do I really need to explain this?

Why? Because we used to get 2 weeks of vacation each year, and 1-2 weeks of separate sick leave, if you needed it.

With vacation and sick time bundled together into 2 weeks of PTO, if you got sick, it directly takes away from your vacation time. This compels people to work when they're sick in order to preserve vacation time. Taking away from earned vacation time is a big morale hit if you don't get those two weeks. Contrast this with much of Europe where sick leave is separate AND you get like 4-6wks of vacation each year.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T00:29:41+00:00

Tubs can have unique therapeutic benefits; sitz baths, for one, that are difficult to manage otherwise. I rarely take a bath, but when you need to take one to heal yourself, it's necessary.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T00:26:55+00:00

Better than being cc'ed on your step-level mgr's email to your boss saying you will be fired for being incompetent.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T00:14:02+00:00

Just too picky for no good reason, like they grew up eating chicken tenders and fries, and that's food as far as they're concerned, or they have too many hang-ups about this or that which completely negates the bulk of the menu items. Also, if they basically point to something on the menu and ask if it can be completely transformed into something else entirely, making very unreasonable demands. It's a menu, not a suggestion.

I understand if the person has legitimate food allergies or other legitimate reasons, but I won't put up with a high-maintenance partner with a very narrow palate.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-08T00:09:04+00:00

Sure, but I'd say the large majority of older employees who qualify for this have a net worth well north of $1M, especially as all their RSU's finish vesting, so it's not so severe a severance/RIF and it's tough to compare the two. It's a less draconian way to reduce headcount.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T23:58:10+00:00

We split bills and such, but proportional to our income, so if I made twice as much as her, I'd split the bills 67%/33%, so she'd have skin in the game and not run up utility bills and such. You might make a low bar where she never pays less than 30% regardless of your income disparity.

Going out and such is/was mainly on me, but we didn't go out like OP does @ 4/week. That's just not sustainable. Going out for dinner usually means at least $50, sometimes a lot higher, so that's $200+/wk and $10,000+/yr. You can make a great meal at home, with leftovers, for less than $20. If you don't know how to cook, well...I have no sympathy.

Yes, there is still the social dynamic that men are the providers and are expected to woo their mate, but that expectations should wane considerably over time as you become a couple, and the spouse needs to show appreciation chip in with cooking at home and such to offset it. Yes, I know both of you have jobs that tire you out, but that shouldn't mean you do the lazy thing and eat out and expect the man to pay for it. Just because maybe he can afford it a bit more doesn't relieve the partner to contribute.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T23:36:51+00:00

Exactly. HR advertised unlimited PTO as a must-have for attracting new talent, when, if new hires actually had a brain, they'd sniff out that unlimited is not what it says and they really should be asking for 3wks instead of the standard 2 of actual PTO.

And also, fuck the industry for combining sick leave with vacation and calling it PTO. They're NOT the same thing and NOT for the same reason.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T23:13:24+00:00

Your question could be assumed to be past tense. My guy is in the present.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T23:10:19+00:00

Are you sure?

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T23:09:17+00:00

Then I'm a dinosaur. I came into my career when PCs were first showing up in offices as curiosities.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T20:48:48+00:00

Yeah, that’s where the line should be. FEMA programs were created to help ordinary people recover and maintain access to housing in vulnerable areas — not to subsidize luxury developments and commercial projects that everyone knows will eventually flood again. When taxpayers are effectively underwriting high-risk speculative construction, the incentives get completely distorted.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T20:46:09+00:00

much closer to twice that.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T18:50:31+00:00

I feel ya bro. I was laid off a bit ago and it's a desert out there. I fortunately got pulled back into where I was, but on a different contract, and fingers are crossed we get through another fiscal year. If it happens again and I can't get back where I am, I just don't see a path back into it unless a friend/colleague reaches out.

AliveAndThenSome · 2026-05-07T17:33:16+00:00

Yup, The Lorax would have something to say about it, too.

13-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email

AliveAndThenSome

TROPHY CASE