Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to 60,000 Employees to Fund AI Infrastructure

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees—representing about 27% of its 223,000-person global workforce—to rein in operating costs and fund massive artificial intelligence infrastructure investments. According to an internal memo from Chief People Officer Amy Coleman, the voluntary exit packages target staff at level 70 and below across the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K., covering divisions such as Xbox, Windows, Copilot, and finance. The offer includes up to 39 weeks of pay, with decisions due by year-end. The initiative follows earlier retirement buyouts and July cuts of 4,800 workers ahead of quarterly earnings.