# Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 staff across four countries

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/microsoft-offers-buyouts-to-60000-employees/
- Published: 2026-10-26T19:33:54+00:00
- Original publisher: The Verge
- Original article: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1018666/microsoft-expands-buyouts-60000-employees-eligible
- Topics: Americas, Asia, Business, Companies, World

## Key points

- Buyouts are available to up to 60,000 staff across four countries.
- Eligibility varies by team, with several groups excluded.
- Microsoft says decisions are not based on age or performance.

## Summary

Microsoft has expanded a voluntary buyout offer to as many as 60,000 employees in the US, UK, Canada and India. The programme gives eligible staff financial support and career planning resources to leave, as Microsoft seeks to reduce staffing without another round of compulsory redundancies.

Eligibility varies by team: AI experiences, Copilot, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources are included, while some cloud and AI groups are only partly participating. Marketing, commercial business, discovery and quantum, and security teams are excluded; the offer follows 4,800 job cuts and is separate from an earlier programme for about 9,000 US employees. Microsoft says the new offer is not based on age, length of service or performance.

## Coverage

- [The Verge: Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 staff across four countries](https://www.theverge.com/tech/1018666/microsoft-expands-buyouts-60000-employees-eligible)
- [Engadget: Microsoft reportedly offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees as an attempt to trim costs](https://www.engadget.com/2297175/microsoft-reportedly-offers-voluntary-buyouts-to-60000-employees/)
- [Rock Paper Shotgun: With Xbox cuts not done, Microsoft offer voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 workers across the company in latest attempt to get rid of staff](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/with-xbox-cuts-not-done-microsoft-offer-voluntary-buyouts-to-around-60000-workers-across-the-company-in-latest-attempt-to-get-rid-of-staff)
- [Eurogamer: Amid sweeping layoffs at Xbox and massive AI investments, Microsoft introduces a "Voluntary Exit Offer" to 60,000 workers](https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-ai-microsoft-voluntary-exit-offer-60000)
- [Destructoid: Microsoft restructuring continues with 60,000 employees given buyout offer to leave now, or probably get laid off later anyway](https://www.destructoid.com/microsoft-restructuring-60k-employees-voluntary-exit-offer/)
- [IGN: Microsoft Offer Buyouts to 60,000 Workers as It Doubles Down on AI Investment](https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-voluntary-exits-60000-workers)
- [The Guardian: Microsoft to reportedly offer buyouts to 60,000 employees in latest cuts](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/26/microsoft-buyout-offers-ai-cuts)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.