As the pandemic has caused many people to switch to remote work or take on entirely new avenues of employment, Microsoft employees may have more free time on their hands than they expected. Now, the software giant is giving those employees the opportunity to while away the hours with some of the most acclaimed gaming titles of all time.
In response to employee complaints about the loss of free access to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate archives, the company’s HR department recently announced that all employees will keep access to the service without any extra costs. According to the company, Game Pass Ultimate allows employees to access over 100 games for free, from Xbox One, PC, and Xbox 360 (many classic titles are included in the list).
The company also announced that the Game Pass Ultimate membership fee is waived no matter which country the employee currently resides in. This policy was put in place to “allow employees to choose how they spend their free time in a way that works for them, no matter where in the world they are,” the company said.
With this move, Microsoft is demonstrating that even tech giants understand that employees need entertainment in this trying time, and are willing to go the extra mile to make sure they’re taken care of. The company is also extending free access to the professional versions of Microsoft 365 and PowerApps to all employees.
Whether you work for Microsoft or not, it’s always inspiring to see companies making sure that their employees are well taken care of. After all, allowing people the freedom to relax and have some fun is undoubtedly a great way to increase workplace morale and productivity.