Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees

In brief

Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the editor. Developing: we will update this story after Microsoft's quarterly earnings.

On 26 October, Microsoft introduced a Voluntary Exit Offer for eligible employees in participating organisations. Amy Coleman, the company's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, announced it in a note to staff that Microsoft also published on its blog. The programme is voluntary. Employees choose whether to take it.

Who is eligible

According to Coleman's note, the offer covers employees at level 70 and below in participating teams in the US, Canada, India and the UK. She describes it as "a time-limited, voluntary program" that comes with financial support and career-planning resources. "Some organizations are providing the Voluntary Exit Offer, and some are not," she wrote.

The note does not describe the financial terms. TechCrunch reported that they will be similar to Microsoft's standard severance.

How many people

Around 60,000 employees are being offered the buyout, Microsoft confirmed to TechCrunch. CNBC, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter, also put eligibility at around 60,000. It said that is about 27% of Microsoft's 223,000-strong workforce. According to the same person, employees must decide in early December, and those who accept will leave on 31 December.

Not every team is taking part. TechCrunch reported that some employees, including those in data centres, sales and marketing, are excluded. CNBC's source said some marketing, sales and engineering teams have decided not to participate.

What came before

Coleman wrote that the offer "builds on what we learned earlier this year through the Voluntary Retirement Program". CNBC reported that more than 30% of those eligible for that programme took it, according to Microsoft. That programme was limited to level 67 and below. The new offer reaches higher, to vice-president level, the person told CNBC.

CNBC links the offer to the cost of Microsoft's AI infrastructure. In July, Microsoft said capital expenditure for the September quarter would exceed $50 billion.

Why it matters

For customers and partners, the main question is continuity. Participation varies by team, so the effect on account teams, support and product groups may be uneven. IT leaders with large Microsoft estates may want to confirm their named contacts over the coming weeks.

What to watch

Microsoft reports quarterly results on Wednesday 28 October, after the US market close. Watch for any charge linked to the offer and for comments on expected uptake. We will update this story after the results.

Sources and scope

• Microsoft, Amy Coleman's note introducing the Voluntary Exit Offer: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/10/26/introducing-a-voluntary-exit-offer/
• TechCrunch, on the confirmed ~60,000 figure, the severance-like terms and the exclusions: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/26/microsoft-offers-buyouts-to-around-60000-employees-reports-say/
• CNBC, on the unnamed-source figures, the timeline, the excluded teams and the earlier programme: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/microsoft-msft-voluntary-buyouts.html

Figures other than those in Microsoft's own note are attributed to the outlets that reported them. "Why it matters" is ByteNib editorial analysis.

Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the editor before publication.

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