There's no shame in working hard at your job or getting a sense of satisfaction from writing programs to move 0s and 1s around, but I sometimes forget that my employer at the end of the day really does not personally care about me.

Always good to keep this in mind.

We don’t do it expecting love in return - we get a paycheck every two weeks

I get my paycheque for showing up. For dedicated work rather than mediocrity, I need extra.

so what seems to be the problem?

You can get people to "show up" for far less than MSFT salaries.

It doesn't cost you anything to do your best work

that's absolutely un-true in nearly every field, even CS ones.

I don't even get the premise.

Your best effort doesn't require more .... effort ?

What kind of work is it that you do? I'd love to join.

If sitting around idly at low-paying jobs watching paint dry wasn't an easier way to achieve a paycheck than the hard work that the employer would prefer you to do then it wouldn't be the world's most common trope.

It sure does have a mental and physical cost.

Lol, EVERY last company I've worked for talks about how we are their 'family'. When layoffs come it looks a whole lot different. They talk family when they are trying to get a few more off the book hours out of you.

The steady paycheck is the obvious first motivation, but really, I do it for two more things: 1) the sense of accomplishment, and 2) the occasional batshit-enormous award. Yes, they've used this lever to hoodwink me into working hard just for the possibility, but the legendary microsoft "gold star" award is no joke.

I work hard for myself not some employment ideal.