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Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees

Microsoft announced Monday that it is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its global workforce.^{⁠[10, 15, 25]} Employees in the US, Canada, India and the UK are eligible, though some teams are excluded.^{⁠[12, 14]} GeekWire reported there is no age or tenure requirement and that the package is equivalent to Microsoft's standard severance offer.^{⁠[5, 21]}

In a message to employees, chief people officer Amy Coleman wrote that the offer gives staff "the opportunity to leave Microsoft with financial support and career planning resources."^⁠[26] The Information reported the offer amounts to about 27% of staff as Microsoft aims to reduce expenses amid its AI investments.^⁠[25] Microsoft expects a much smaller share of employees to accept than took its spring retirement program, according to GeekWire; The New York Times reported the company cautioned it did not expect many employees to sign on.^{⁠[2, 21]}

Why it matters The buyouts give Microsoft a way to reduce expenses and reshape its workforce without another round of layoffs while it funds its AI build-out.^{⁠[7, 12, 25]}

Covered by The New York Times, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal and 22 more

Read first Microsoft is offering buyouts to around 60,000 employees. Read the memo. · Business Insider