Microsoft Will Offer Buyouts To 60,000 Employees

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees across multiple countries as part of a larger restructuring effort. This move follows earlier buyout programs and job cuts and aims to provide financial incentives and career support while helping the company adjust to changing market conditions.

Microsoft announced on Monday that it is extending voluntary buyout offers to approximately 60,000 employees across several countries, including the United States, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. The company aims to provide affected staff with financial incentives and career planning support as part of this initiative.

Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s chief people officer, described the program as a way to introduce greater flexibility amid organizational changes. In an internal message to employees, she stated that the “Voluntary Exit Offer” is a “time-limited” opportunity designed to help employees shape their next career steps. Eligible workers will receive email notifications with detailed information about their buyout offers in the coming hours.

This latest program builds on a voluntary retirement plan Microsoft rolled out in April, which extended buyout offers to around 8,600 employees. According to a person familiar with that initiative, more than 30% of those employees accepted the offer. The April program coincided with broader adjustments to Microsoft’s performance evaluation system and compensation structure, including how bonuses and stock options are awarded.

Earlier this year, Microsoft also announced cuts affecting roughly 3,200 positions within its Xbox video games division, reflecting an ongoing effort to realign resources and optimize operations.

While the company has not disclosed the total number of employees globally or the percentage eligible for the new voluntary buyout program, the scope of the current offer—reaching tens of thousands of workers—signals a significant restructuring effort. Microsoft has faced mounting pressure to manage costs amid shifting market conditions and evolving business priorities.

The details on severance packages and specific eligibility criteria have not been publicly shared beyond the assurance that financial support and career resources will be provided. Microsoft has framed the buyout offer as a strategic move to create more options for employees during a period of transformation within the company.

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