ON THIS DAY

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April 4, 1975:

Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft.

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington.Founded on this day in 1975, the company became highly influential in the rise of personal computers through software like Windows, and the company has since expanded to Internet services, cloud computing, video gaming and other fields. Microsoft is the largest software maker, one of the most valuable public U.S. companies, and one of the most valuable brands globally.

Criticism of Microsoft has followed various aspects of its products and business practices. Frequently criticised are the ease of use, robustness, and security of the company's software. They have also been criticised for the use of permatemp employees (employees employed for years as "temporary", and therefore without medical benefits), and for the use of forced retention tactics, which means that employees would be sued if they tried to leave. 

Historically, Microsoft has also been accused of overworking employees, in many cases, leading to burnout within just a few years of joining the company. The company is often referred to as a "Velvet Sweatshop", a term which originated in a 1989 Seattle Times article, and later became used to describe the company by some of Microsoft's own employees. This characterisation is derived from the perception that Microsoft provides nearly everything for its employees in a convenient place, but in turn overworks them to a point where it would be bad for their long-term health.

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