Microsoft CEO: I was 'completely wrong' to say women shouldn't ask for raises

Microsoft CEO: I was &#039;completely wrong&#039; to say women shouldn&#039;t ask for raises

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella is swiftly walking back comments he made on Thursday in which he said that women should have "faith that the system will give you the right raise" instead of actually asking for one.

Nadella sent a public email to employees on Thursday evening, which Microsoft has posted on its website:

"Toward the end of the interview, Maria [Klawe, a member of Microsoft's board of directors] asked me what advice I would offer women who are not comfortable asking for pay raises. I answered that question completely wrong. Without a doubt I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap. I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work. And when it comes to career advice on getting a raise when you think it's deserved, Maria's advice was the right advice. If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask." [Satya Nadella, Microsoft]

This is a big turnaround from what Nadella previously said: "That might be one of the initial 'super powers,' that quite frankly, women (who) don't ask for a raise have. It's good karma. It will come back."