Microsoft will boost pay and stock compensation to retain employees

Well, that's a pretty big "only benefit". I'd love to work for Microsoft but would never in a million years consider working for Amazon or Meta, even if you literally offered me a million dollars a year. I'd much rather take something like a third of that and enjoy my life; I've already got fuck loads of money (by my, and most "normal" people standards)

It also doesn’t seem like it’s a 25% bump in total comp.

> Microsoft plans to “nearly double” its budget for employee salary increases and boost the range of stock compensation it gives some workers by at least 25%, an effort to retain staff and help people cope with inflation.

Sounds like the cash salary bump is a bit less than twice normal amounts (so likely ~10% instead of 5%).

Separately, the stock grants for some employees will be bumped by ~25%.