# Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to About 60,000 Employees, More Than a Quarter of Its Global Workforce

The time-limited offer covers staff at level 70 and below in the U.S., U.K., Canada and India, in units that opted in. It follows a buyout for about 9,000 U.S. workers earlier this year and 4,800 job cuts in July.

- Section: [Economy](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/economy/)
- Published: 2026-10-26
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/microsoft-voluntary-buyouts-60000-employees-quarter-of-workforce-ai-buildout-fox-business/

Microsoft announced Monday a voluntary buyout program covering about 60,000 eligible employees, Fox Business reports.

The offer. Eligible workers can choose to leave with financial support and career planning help. The company said it had about 223,000 full-time employees as of June 30, 2026, so the program reaches more than a quarter of them. It covers employees at level 70 and below in the U.S., U.K., Canada and India, and only in business units that chose to take part. Microsoft said participation depends on each unit's priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs. Eligible staff were told to expect an email with details within hours.

The company's words. Chief people officer Amy Coleman wrote that the program "reflects an important part of how we're evolving our approach to change," with "more ways for employees to shape their next chapter." She called the voluntary exit offer new to Microsoft. Business Insider reported it first.

The history. Earlier this year Microsoft offered buyouts to about 7% of its U.S. workforce, roughly 9,000 people. In July it announced cuts affecting about 4,800 jobs, or 2.1% of the global workforce, while overhauling Xbox and selling off up to five studios.

The pressure. Fox says tech giants face costly spending on AI infrastructure such as data centers and chips.

Note for readers: how many employees will accept is unknown, and Microsoft has not said how much the program will cost. The link between buyouts and AI spending is Fox's framing, not a stated reason from Microsoft.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox Business](https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/microsoft-offers-voluntary-buyouts-60000-employees-tech-giant-reshapes-its-workforce)