Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its 223,000-strong workforce, according to reports from Bloomberg, Business Insider and The Verge. The offer covers staff at vice president level and below on selected teams in the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.
The move was announced on Monday in a note from Microsoft chief people officer Amy Coleman, who said the program gives eligible workers "the opportunity to leave Microsoft with financial support and career planning resources." It comes months after the company cut 4,800 jobs, mostly in Xbox and commercial sales.
Microsoft buyout offer: who qualifies
The Verge reports that employees across much of Microsoft can apply, including teams working on AI experiences, Copilot, CoreAI, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources. The company's cloud + AI, MicrosoftAI and legal affairs groups are taking part only partially.
Not everyone is included. Staff in data centers, commercial sales, marketing, discovery and quantum, and security are not eligible, according to the same reports. The offer is also separate from an earlier retirement-focused buyout program that reached about 9,000 US employees.
Microsoft says the new offer is not based on age, length of service or performance, and that it may run similar programs again in the future.
- Around 60,000 employees eligible, out of about 223,000 at the end of June.
- Open to staff at VP level and below in the US, Canada, India and the UK.
- Included teams: AI experiences, Copilot, CoreAI, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance and HR.
