Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to 60,000 Employees

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, extending its workforce-reduction options beyond the retirement program introduced earlier this year. The company confirmed the eligibility figure to CRN. No departure total has been announced.

Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the Voluntary Exit Offer on October 26. Eligible employees work in participating teams in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India, at internal level 70 or below. Business leaders decide which groups participate. Some engineering teams, sales organizations, and corporate functions are excluded.

The program covers employees across roles, not just developers. Level 70 includes some general managers and employees with vice president titles, but not corporate vice presidents, according to GeekWire's reporting. Microsoft said eligibility has no age or tenure threshold, and performance is not a factor.

The package follows Microsoft's standard severance terms, including base pay tied to tenure and level, continued stock vesting, healthcare coverage for a fixed period, and career-transition services. Employees have until the first week of December to decide. CRN reports participants will leave on December 31.

The offer reaches roughly 27% of Microsoft's reported workforce of 223,000 as of June 30. That percentage measures eligibility, not the share expected to leave. Microsoft told GeekWire participation should be substantially lower than in its earlier retirement program.

Microsoft also told GeekWire voluntary exits do not replace layoffs. Separate job cuts remain an option depending on business conditions.