Hiring Frenzy for Microsoft Vancouver
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In the seven weeks since Microsoft announced that it intended to open a software development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, which it hoped would "be home to software developers from around the world," it may have gotten more than it bargained for. In short, wrote Jenna Adorno, technical recruiter for MSN, on Microsoft's JobsBlog on Aug. 22, "Vancouver has worn me out." Since Adorno first announced the facility July 9, she wrote, she has been "swallowed up by the endless offers and questions around employment at the Microsoft Vancouver Development Centre," which was built to address international workers affected by an inability to obtain a U.S. H-1B visa that would have enabled them to work out of the company's Redmond, Wash., headquarters. Vancouver was chosen not only for its proximity to Redmond (less than 150 miles) and Canada's significantly fewer hurdles than the United States when it comes to hiring skilled foreign workers. On July 12, Adorno implored international workers who had accepted a Microsoft offer but had not received an H-1B visa to contact her directly about a potential relocation to Vancouver, should the involved managers be okay with such an arrangement. The Vancouver location was expected to be made up of different employees on different teams that all had counterparts in Redmond. Microsoft assured rejected H-1Bs that there would be space for all of them in Canada, rolling out "new," comparable offers in late July and early August with start dates between September and November. However, Microsoft hit a classic "remote work" wrinkle--that some roles function more favorably remotely than others. Software designers and developers would be more than welcome in Vancouver while project managers, media specialists and other roles would not. Microsoft reported Aug. 22 that nearly every software designer and developer who was affected by the H-1B cap had been placed in a job in Vancouver, with start dates in waves over the next three months. The company boasted that it had conceived of this international office and had it in operation in less than six months. |
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Comments (9)
MS is not going to be hiring Canadains, only H-1B visas. Mainly, cheap Indian programers that are now going to flood the Canadian market.
MS, go back home and screw up your own country.
Posted by Not Good | August 28, 2007 12:08 AM
MS is now exporting to Canada what's been done in the U.S. for years, and it was perfectly acceptable to everyone outside the U.S. as they casually observed what was going on. Now that it's impacting someone else, NOW it's a problem.
Now that MS and other companies have crushed the economic models in the U.S., it's time to share it with the rest of the world.
Hope you enjoy it as much as you enjoyed seeing our markets and businesses crushed.
Posted by Now it's your turn ! | August 28, 2007 12:35 PM
They already have screwed up our country. Now it's your turn. Remember no one cares what happens to anyone else...until it starts happening to them. Funny, you never see these companies outsourcing their overload of managers or bringing in H1B visa people to take over those jobs. Where they could save some real $$$$.
Posted by Rick | August 28, 2007 1:20 PM
RE: Now it's your turn!
You've got it right here! Turn the tables on our good neighbors to the north and they cry fowl, but not until then, eh!?
I love it, though I am still not a fan of MS.
Posted by David Mc | August 28, 2007 1:33 PM
I don't see how injecting new young, educated workers to an old & "Crushed" economic model could have any negative impact, anyways the spirit of American dream is based on the amazing cultural diversity that we have, but as always if you are not prepared for the next wave you are going to suffer, so stop complaining and get back to school!!.
Posted by Friendly foe | August 28, 2007 2:04 PM
Dear MS,
Welcome to Vancouver. We here at the tax centre have have some helpfull suggestions and advise offer;
Open a big office and use prime real estate, downtown preferably. Don't lease or rent, build a nice new building as to employ highly paid contractors. We can recommend a good electrician, good luck booking him though. We think it's due to the fact he only charges a $100/hour. Oh, and when you are done, don't forget your property tax. Water is plentiful here but it ain't free!
Hire as many cheap programmers from India, Russia or where ever you can find them. We warn you now that Canadian payroll is complex with all those income taxe deductions, CPP, WCB and a plethora of other taxes! But you are a software company, we are sure you'll be able to handle it!
Speaking of taxes, don't forget to report your corporate earnings to revenue Canada and don't bother funnelling those to your Ireland offices. Unlike the USA, Canada law has something called "Anti-Avoidance" regulations.
A quick note on GST, if your programmers create intellectual property that will be sold world wide, you may have to charge and remit GST to the federal government. We think its about time the world started paying GST on their XBox-Live subscription!
Are your project managers commuting from Redmond? Fantastic! Air Canada, Westjet, Hotels and the many taxi-cabs thank you in advance for your business.....
Welcome to Canada!
The Tax Man
Posted by The Tax Man | August 28, 2007 4:18 PM
Friendly foe:
The American dream isn't cultural diversity, and H1-B visa holders are taking jobs from educated Americans at lower salaries.
Not Good:
Americans doesn't want MS to hire Indians in Canada; we want MS to hire in the US, Americans not H1-B visa holders.
Posted by Mark | August 28, 2007 4:28 PM
The second coming of MS in Vancouver will be a blessing for everybody. We need big companies in Vancouver, and hopefully more will come back as no one in their right mind will elect NDP government again which nearly bankrupted our province and chased the big names away. Bright people are always welcome in Canada, and some local talent will find jobs there.
As for Canadian taxes, as a Canadian who has lived in the US for nearly a decade, I can assure you that the total Canadian tax paid is on the same level as the states of California, Massachusetts and New York, and you get much more for your money.
Posted by Bruce | September 21, 2007 7:35 PM
People are really short sight.
You want job security?? No problem, go Africa, go middle east, go Antarctic, no one is going to get your job there.
This is the world economy. If you cannot understand, stay home. The world is dangerous to you.
Posted by likexx | April 9, 2008 2:48 AM