Microsoft Offers Voluntary Departure to About 60,000 Employees
US technology company Microsoft has offered about 60,000 employees the option to leave voluntarily, roughly a quarter of its workforce. The company is trying to cut costs while investing in artificial intelligence.
US technology company Microsoft has offered voluntary departure to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its total workforce. The company is seeking to reduce costs while at the same time putting money into the development of artificial intelligence.
Who is eligible
According to a company spokesperson, the offer applies to employees in selected teams in the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom who hold positions at vice-president level or below. Several other groups are excluded, including some data centre, sales and marketing staff. About 27% of Microsoft's employees are eligible to take up the offer.
In an internal message to staff, the company explained that the voluntary departure offer is part of its approach to change. Microsoft said it aims to create "greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next stage of life".
Second offer this year
This is already the second voluntary departure offer Microsoft has made to its employees this year. According to available information, in April the company offered about 7% of its US employees the chance to retire early. Based on data from the television network CNBC, around 30% of those who were eligible took up the voluntary retirement plan.
Headcount
At the end of June, Microsoft employed 223,000 people worldwide. That is fewer than at the end of 2025, when the company had 228,000 employees.
