What was offered

On 26 October 2026 Microsoft offered a voluntary exit to about 60,000 eligible employees, roughly 27 per cent of its 223,000 workforce, in the US, Canada, the UK and India, at level 70 and below in participating teams. It is a choice to leave with financial support and career help, not a mass layoff announcement.

How many are expected to leave

Reporting on 30 October says Microsoft expects only 3,000 or fewer, under 5 per cent of those eligible, to accept. No take-up target was set, and the company has not guaranteed no later layoffs, which is feeding staff unease. Staff reportedly have until early December to decide, with departures expected by the end of the year.

The context, stated carefully

The offer follows an earlier retirement offer to about 8,750 to 9,000 US staff and 4,800 layoffs in July, and comes alongside heavy AI data-centre spending. Microsoft itself did not cite AI as the reason for this offer; that link is made by commentators and analysts, not stated as Microsoft's reason.

Sources: Business Insider via People Matters | The AI Pin (Seattle Times reporting)