Microsoft gives 60,000 employees an option to take voluntary buyouts

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyout packages to approximately 60,000 workers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India. The program extends to roughly 27% of the company's 223,000-person global workforce. Chief people officer Amy Coleman announced the plan in an internal memo, presenting it as an option for personnel considering an exit as the company shifts resources toward artificial intelligence. [1][2][4][5]

The buyout is available to selected staff up to level 70, encompassing roles up to the vice president level, with no minimum age or tenure requirements. The package mirrors standard severance terms, offering base pay tied to tenure, continued stock vesting, temporary healthcare coverage, and career transition services. However, participation is restricted by division: teams in Windows, Xbox, Copilot, and finance are eligible, while data center staff, sales, and marketing are excluded. Those who opt in must decide by the first week of December, with departures taking effect on December 31. [1][4][5]

The move follows a series of cost-cutting measures, including an April retirement buyout accepted by about 30% of eligible staff and thousands of layoffs across several divisions earlier this year. Microsoft faces mounting pressure to trim operating expenses as capital expenditures soar, with Engadget noting nearly $175 billion budgeted for data centers and AI infrastructure in 2026 alone. [1][2][4][5]