Microsoft have four buildings on a large business park alongside Oracle (who have more buildings, highlighting one difference between companies).  The Microsoft campus is as much like a university as the real world can get.   I'm surprised by how much I enjoy being able to wear jeans to work, and how different it is to see everyone in casual clothes (too long around banks and large companies).

Ever since I read Peopleware I've been interested to see how quality companies organise their workspaces.  Joel Spolsky has written about the importance of developer offices and how an architect designed the Fog Creek offices.

The Microsoft buildings are light and spacious with desks around the windows of the building and meeting rooms in the middle of floors - so everyone has a good view of the outside world.  There's the standard (or dot-com standard) Aeron chairs and wireless networking inside the building.  I read somewhere they even change the air in the air conditioning system more regularly than most offices (so there is something in the air).   Perhaps it's no wonder Microsoft have won the number one place to work in the UK for the last two years.

There's also the standard Microsoft perks like the free soft drinks, several cafés, a pool table and table hockey (seeing all of this transported me back in my mind to my dot-com days around Sydney).  I found it hard to get used to the idea that it's probably a good thing for people to be able to relax and enjoy themselves at work.

As Matthew Reynolds reports, Microsoft have recently had Ricky Gervais, aka David Brent from The Office do a motivational video.  The large 'motivational' posters containing his photo and quotes in the hallways have distracted me several times.

Rory would be pleased that the toilets are very clean and pleasant consistent with his bathroom report from Redmond.