Microsoft offers voluntary exit to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of staff

Microsoft has started a new “Voluntary Exit Offer,” a buyout program open to about 60,000 employees, according to reporting from CNN and Business Insider cited by PC Gamer and Rock Paper Shotgun. Based on CNN’s figures, that is about 27% of the company’s total workforce.

Microsoft chief people officer Amy Coleman announced the program in a memo to staff. “This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support,” Coleman wrote. She added that the program builds on lessons from the Voluntary Retirement Program Microsoft ran earlier this year.

According to the reports, the offer covers employees in the US, the UK, Canada and India, but not every team qualifies. Coleman wrote that participation “varies based on each business’s priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs.” CNN reports that employees who accept the buyout will leave Microsoft on December 31.

CNN describes the offer as part of Microsoft’s effort to offset its spending on AI. In April, Microsoft ran its first voluntary buyout program for US employees, and about 4,800 people were laid off in July, CNN reports. According to Business Insider, 9,000 employees were offered buyouts under the earlier retirement program, and about a third accepted.

Microsoft hasn’t said whether Xbox is one of the participating businesses. PC Gamer said it has asked Xbox for comment. Xbox has already been through several rounds of layoffs this year. Rock Paper Shotgun notes that when Xbox executive Matt Booty announced September’s job cuts, he said the division was about three-quarters of the way through its plan to cut 3,200 jobs in total. The outlet also points to a report from last week that more Xbox cuts were planned for October, November and January.

According to Rock Paper Shotgun, the buyout offer follows Microsoft’s recent notice to some employees that they will be required to work from the office four days a week starting in February.