WEB DESK: Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to roughly 60,000 employees as it seeks to control costs while continuing to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.
The programme is open to eligible staff in participating teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, at level 70 and below. A person familiar with the matter said eligible roles span areas including Windows, Copilot, AI experiences, finance, human resources and Xbox. Marketing, commercial business and security teams are excluded.
In a staff memo, Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said the offer gives employees considering a move outside the company an opportunity to leave with support, while giving participating teams another way to adjust to changing needs. Microsoft described the scheme as voluntary and time-limited.
The move comes as the company commits substantial sums to AI infrastructure, including data centres and chips. Microsoft has forecast capital spending of $175 billion for calendar year 2026. It had 223,000 full-time employees worldwide as of June 30, 2026.
Microsoft has previously offered buyouts to about 9,000 US employees and announced 4,800 job cuts in July as it restructured its Xbox business. Its shares rose about 1% on Monday.
