Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees globally
Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to up to 60,000 employees across the US, UK, Canada, and India with financial support.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to up to 60,000 employees
- Eligible regions include the US, UK, Canada, and India
- Participants receive financial backing and career planning resources
- The move follows a recent round of 4,800 layoffs
Technology giant Microsoft has launched a major workforce restructuring initiative, offering voluntary buyout packages to as many as 60,000 employees located across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and India.
In an internal memo addressed to staff, Microsoft Chief People Officer Amy Coleman explained that the program aims to provide employees with the opportunity to exit the company supported by financial assistance and dedicated career planning resources.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed to The Verge that staff members across multiple core departments are eligible for these voluntary exits. These include the AI experiences, Copilot, CoreAI, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance, and human resources teams. Partial participation also applies to the cloud + AI, MicrosoftAI, and corporate, external, and legal affairs divisions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Conversely, certain divisions are excluded from the current offering. Employees working within Microsoft's marketing, commercial business, discovery and quantum, and security teams are not participating in this voluntary exit program.
This initiative arrives just months after Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees, a transition that primarily affected its Xbox and commercial sales operations. Additionally, a report from Fortune indicated that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is planning further rounds of job cuts.
"The Voluntary Exit Offer is new for us. We’ll learn from it. At the same time, we’ll keep helping people focus on the work that matters most."
Amy Coleman, Microsoft Chief People Officer
Microsoft's deployment of a massive voluntary buyout program highlights a calculated shift in corporate cost management and talent allocation during the artificial intelligence boom. By offering financial incentives for voluntary departures rather than relying solely on forced layoffs, the company attempts to mitigate internal friction while aggressively realigning its workforce toward high-priority AI sectors.
In a note published on Microsoft's internal HR website, the company emphasized that today's offer is not contingent upon employee age, tenure, or performance ratings. Furthermore, Microsoft noted it might contemplate future voluntary exit offerings should business and workforce requirements dictate.
Source: The Verge
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