Microsoft extends voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees

Microsoft will offer voluntary buyouts to roughly 60,000 employees, a figure that represents about a quarter of its global workforce. CNBC reports that the company announced the program on Monday, targeting eligible staff in select parts of the business. The move follows a period where the company has managed costs while investing in AI infrastructure and data-center buildout, though Microsoft did not cite a direct reason for the new package.

The voluntary exit offer, or VEO, extends to qualifying employees in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Eligibility is limited to employees at level 70 or below. While Microsoft’s internal rankings are not publicly detailed, the salary database Levels.fyi indicates that levels 65 through 67 correspond to principal positions, while levels 68 through 70 align with partner or distinguished levels.

Amy Coleman, the company's Chief People Officer, stated that eligible organizations were selected based on each business's priorities, customer commitments, and workforce needs. The company framed the offer as an opportunity for employees who may have already been considering career moves outside Microsoft.

This initiative follows a series of workforce actions in 2026. Earlier in the year, the company provided a voluntary retirement package to 8,750 US employees. Later in July, the Xbox division cut 3,200 jobs, a reduction equal to about 20 percent of its gaming division. Coleman noted that roughly 30 percent of eligible staff accepted the April retirement offer, which reduced the scope of subsequent layoffs. Unlike the April offer targeted at long-tenured employees nearing retirement, the current VEO reaches a significantly larger pool of workers.