Microsoft Competing For Top Talent, Will Institute Pay Raises (MSFT)

As the company tries to compete for top tech talent with Facebook, Google, Twitter, Apple, and others, Microsoft MSFT announced it would be instituting pay raises and stock awards to bring in the best and brightest. According to a memo to Microsoft employees from CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft is going to change the way it pays its employees. "Through our history, we have been THE place people came when they wanted to make a difference in the world through software, hardware and services," Ballmer said in the memo obtained by Reuters. "This is as true today as it has been at any time in our history, and the changes we're rolling out today will help ensure Microsoft continues to be the place that top talent comes to change the world," Ballmer said. At last check, shares of Microsoft were down 31 cents to $25.45, a loss of 1.2%.