Tech

Microsoft offers to buy out a quarter of its workforce

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 27/10/2026, 12:58:23 UTC.

Briefings

Microsoft announced a voluntary buyout program offering roughly 60,000 employees, or about a quarter of its global workforce, to eligible staff in select regions. The initiative targets employees at Levels 70 or below, primarily those considering external career moves, as part of a broader strategy to manage costs following AI and data-center investments. This is the second such voluntary exit offer in 2026, following a similar program in April that reached 8,750 US employees. Approximately 30 percent of eligible employees accepted the offer, reducing the overall impact of the planned layoffs. The program extends eligibility to the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with internal employee rankings determining qualification.

Key points

• Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees, representing about a quarter of its global workforce, targeting those at Levels 70 or below considering external career moves.
• The voluntary exit offer (VEO) was the second time Microsoft ran such a program in 2026, following a similar initiative in April that reached 8,750 US employees.

Context

Microsoft's workforce reduction efforts are driven by cost management amid significant investments in AI infrastructure and data-center buildout. The program targets eligible employees at Levels 70 or below, primarily those considering external career moves, and extends eligibility to the US, India, Canada, and the UK.

Limitations

Eligible organizations were selected based on business priorities, customer commitments, and workforce needs. The specific reasons for the buyout package are not detailed. The program is the second in 2026, with the first occurring in April. The exact number of accepted employees is approximately 30 percent of eligible staff, but the precise breakdown by region or department is not provided.

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