There are limits the changes to the enforcement of non-compete clauses would not apply to the company's most senior leadership, but generally, it means the riff-raff can join other companies much quicker, if they were so minded.

Microsoft added the civil rights audit of its workforce policies and practices would be conducted by a third party and a report would be published.

The software firm also aims to have salary ranges in all of the company's internal and external job postings across the US by at least January 2023. It would no longer include confidentiality language in its U.S. settlement and separation agreements that prohibits workers from disclosing conduct they perceive as illegal.

The company had last week said it would not resist unionisation efforts from its employees in a sign of growing receptiveness in the tech sector that has been for long unconcerned about organised workers. Other than Apple and Amazon of course, they still favour an 18th century approach to staff relations.