Microsoft plans to offer voluntary buyouts to eligible employees in selected departments, a move that could affect approximately 60,000 workers—about a quarter of the company’s global workforce, according to CNBC. The Voluntary Exit Offer comes as Microsoft continues to control costs while investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers.
Microsoft expands voluntary exit offer
Microsoft announced the offer on Monday in a company blog post. The company described the program as an opportunity for employees who may already be considering a career move outside Microsoft.
The Voluntary Exit Offer is available to eligible employees in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Employees at Microsoft level 70 and below qualify for the program. The company’s internal employee levels are based on salary and career databases. According to Levels.fyi, levels 65 through 67 generally correspond to major positions, while levels 68 through 70 represent partner and outstanding levels.
Microsoft chief human resources officer Amy Coleman said the eligible organizations were selected “based on each business’s priorities, customer commitments and employee needs.” Microsoft did not give a specific reason for the buyout package, although the offer follows several years of cost controls alongside increased spending on AI infrastructure and data centers.
Second voluntary workforce reduction in 2026
The initiative marks the second time Microsoft has introduced voluntary layoffs in 2026. In April, the company offered its first voluntary severance package to 8,750 employees in the United States. In July, Microsoft’s Xbox division laid off 3,200 employees, representing about 20 percent of its gaming division.
CNBC reported that about 30 percent of eligible employees accepted their resignations, reducing the effect of the planned layoffs, according to Coleman. Microsoft’s April offer targeted long-tenured employees who may have been nearing the end of their careers, while the latest Voluntary Exit Offer is aimed at a broader potential group.
Source: arstechnica.com