Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts To 60,000 Employees Worldwide
Microsoft announced voluntary buyouts for about 60,000 employees worldwide on October 26, 2026, affecting roughly one-quarter of its global workforce.[1]
Eligible employees in the U.S., Canada, India and the UK who are vice president level or below may apply, with about 27% of staff qualifying.[1] Microsoft said some business units are excluded, including data-center operations and parts of sales and marketing.[1] The offer is the company's second voluntary exit program this year after an April early-retirement offer covering about 7% of its U.S. workforce.[1]
In April 2026, Microsoft offered early-retirement packages to about 7% of its U.S. workforce.[1] Executives say the latest program is intended to reallocate costs and personnel toward artificial-intelligence projects as the company expands AI tools and infrastructure.[1]
Microsoft described the program as voluntary and tied to increased investment in AI, saying it aims to reshape parts of the organization while preserving key operational roles.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On October 26, 2026, Microsoft announced voluntary buyouts for about 60,000 employees, around one-quarter of its global workforce.
- Eligible staff are in the U.S., Canada, India and the UK, must be vice president level or below, and about 27% of employees qualify.
- Some business units, including data-center operations and parts of sales and marketing, are excluded from the offer.
- This is Microsoft’s second voluntary exit program in 2026, following an April early-retirement offer to about 7% of its U.S. workforce.
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