One exec explained a reason for the change is "wanting to invest in the AI wave." A Microsoft executive said a reason behind the company's decision to halt raises and cut bonuses and stock awards this year is "wanting to invest in the AI wave," an internal message viewed by Insider read. "The most important lever for almost all our employees' compensation upside is the stock price," Capossela wrote in the message. Some Microsoft employees have been vocal about the blow to morale from pay changes and recent layoffs, saying in internal messages directed at executives and viewed by Insider. That might be true if we were a private company perhaps like a private law firm, but for publicly traded companies like Microsoft, investors become a critical stakeholder.

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Persons: Satya Nadella, Chris Capossela, Capossela, I've, Ashley Stewart Organizations: Microsoft, OpenAI, Activision, Companies