Microsoft extends voluntary buyout to 60,000 staff as AI spending surges

UPDATE - follow-up to Microsoft offers quarter of global workforce voluntary buyouts:

What Happened

Microsoft has extended a voluntary exit offer to about 60,000 employees, roughly 27% of its global staff, as it ramps up AI investment. The offer applies to eligible workers in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, covering employees at the vice‑president level and below on selected teams. Staff in data‑center operations, sales and marketing are excluded.

Reaction

Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the program in a blog post, saying, "The Voluntary Exit Offer is new for us. We'll learn from it. At the same time, we'll keep helping people focus on the work that matters most, build new skills and, where it makes sense, find new opportunities across Microsoft." She added, "The Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we're evolving our approach to change: creating greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next chapter." Employees who accept will receive a package similar to standard severance.

Context

Voluntary exit offers let companies cut headcount while giving workers a choice, a tactic often used during major technology shifts such as the current AI drive.