Microsoft Voluntary Exit Offer Covers 60,000 Staff

Microsoft is offering a voluntary exit program to about 60,000 employees—more than a quarter of its workforce—in the US, UK, Canada and India. Eligible staff below level 70 in participating teams can receive severance, continued stock vesting, temporary health coverage and career-transition support; they must decide by the first week of December. Some teams, including data centre, marketing, business operations, quantum computing and cybersecurity, are excluded. Microsoft says the voluntary exit program is not a substitute for layoffs, which may continue as business needs change, and says AI was not the reason for the offer. It expects participation below the 30% rate seen in its spring retirement offer, citing comparable programs with participation of 5% to 6%—potentially 3,000 to 3,600 departures. The move follows about 8,750 voluntary retirements this year and around 4,800 job cuts in July. Investors are also weighing Microsoft’s AI infrastructure spending: capital expenditure was $41 billion in its latest fiscal quarter, with about $50 billion expected in the next. Azure growth, Copilot sales, margins and cash flow will be in focus when results are released after US markets close on 28 October. The staffing plan has no direct cryptocurrency catalyst, but Microsoft’s results and AI spending may shape broader tech-sector sentiment and risk appetite.