Microsoft offers voluntary exits to about 60,000 employees
publishers 118articles 138first reported 26 Oct, 15:35 UTCdeveloping since 26 Oct · 7 editionstop 25 #13
Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to about 60,000 employees, more than a quarter of its global workforce, in selected teams across the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.
The time-limited program applies to eligible employees at Microsoft’s internal level 70 and below, a group that can include vice presidents. Participating organizations include teams working on Copilot, AI experiences, Windows and Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources, according to reports citing company communications and people familiar with the program. Some operations, including marketing, commercial business, security and data centers, are excluded.
Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said the offer gives employees considering careers outside Microsoft a supported way to leave while allowing participating organizations to adjust staffing to changing needs. Eligible employees will receive financial support and career-planning resources. Participation varies according to each unit’s priorities, customer commitments and workforce requirements.
The program follows a smaller voluntary retirement offer earlier in 2026. Ars Technica, citing CNBC, reported that about 30% of eligible workers accepted that earlier offer; the acceptance rate for the new program is not yet known.
Microsoft had 223,000 full-time employees worldwide as of June 30. The company has not explicitly attributed the latest program to workers being replaced by artificial intelligence, though it is seeking to control costs while spending heavily on AI infrastructure and data centers.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 18 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 118
- Source articles
- 138
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 18 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →