Microsoft is offering buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees, nearly a quarter of its workforce, to manage headcount without resorting to layoffs. This "voluntary exit offer" is available to eligible employees at the vice president level and below in the U.S., Canada, India, and the UK. Recipients will receive a standard severance package tailored to their location. This initiative follows a voluntary retirement program earlier this year, which saw about one-third of eligible U.S. employees accept the offer. Microsoft has been actively reducing its corporate workforce since May 2025, initially through mass layoffs. Last year, the company laid off around 15,000 employees globally, including about 3,200 in Washington state. Layoffs have persisted this year, albeit on a smaller scale, primarily impacting the gaming division. This current buyout program represents a more creative approach to workforce reduction. The company is strategically controlling its employee numbers. These voluntary offers are a key part of Microsoft's ongoing staffing adjustments.