Hi Peter,

No one should interpret my experiences as indicative of the workplace environment at MS as a whole. Many of my friends there are very happy with what they do and the way they are treated. Perhaps that's what made my personal experience so frustrating in that I knew it wasn't asymptomatic of the company in general.

As to finding another employer - oddly enough I was heavily recruited after I left by..Microsoft (and it's vendors)! They expressed an interest in me as a writer since I had the technical and writing skills combination that is not all that common. And there have been several other offers as well, but I really like the folks I have joined.

I make this point in my "manifesto" - all three of us employee testers were treated like dirt, yet all three of us became highly sought after when we left. Hmmmm.

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>The momment I saw your message, I knew it was better to first print it out. Glad I did. After having read it completely, I can say it is a masterpiece, very well written and extremely relevant and informative for the whole VFP community. Even though you (rightfully) criticize your management, you show enough respect for MS to make it hard for them to condemn or sue you. The story is a real life story of how things can work out at work if management doesn't fully understand and accept the possible consequences of an illness like bipolar disorder. Possibly, employee rights are a little bit different and better in Holland, but I'm not saying here that it can't happen to you in our companies.
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>I notice that you have succeeded in finding another employer! I'm sure your have informed management about your history and that you have made good agreements. I sincerely hope they will indeed offer the lesser-stressy atmosphere that you deserve! BTW, are they also in VFP?