About 60,000 workers in Canada, India, the UK, and the US are reportedly receiving voluntary leave payments from Microsoft.
Amy Coleman, executive vice-president and chief people officer at Microsoft, said in a statement on Monday that the voluntary exit offer (VEO) would provide assistance to qualified workers who are thinking about leaving the business.
“This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support. It also gives participating organisations another way to adapt their workforce to changing needs,” Coleman said.
According to Coleman, the initiative expands on the lessons learned from Microsoft’s voluntary retirement plan earlier this year.
“The Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we’re evolving our approach to change: creating greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next chapter,” she said.
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The offer is available to eligible employees at level 70 and below in participating teams across the four countries, according to Microsoft.
The American technology company said the programme is time-limited and voluntary, with participation depending on business priorities, customer commitments, and workforce needs.
Coleman said eligible employees would receive an email containing a link to details of the offer within hours of the announcement.
Reuters reported that the offer covers about 60,000 employees, representing more than a quarter of Microsoft’s global workforce.
The company had 223,000 full-time employees globally as of June 30, 2026, according to its annual filing.
A source familiar with the programme told Reuters that eligible employees include those working in AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox, and Windows and Devices.
Marketing, commercial business, and security teams would be excluded, the source added.
