As it avoids another layoff round, Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees

Who can take the offer

The offer is available to eligible staff in the US, UK, Canada and India. Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s chief people officer, said it provides financial support and career-planning resources to people who leave.

Sources familiar with the situation said eligible teams include AI experiences, Copilot, CoreAI, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources. Cloud + AI, MicrosoftAI, and corporate, external and legal affairs are participating in part.

Marketing, commercial business, discovery and quantum, and security teams are not included, according to the sources. The offer does not target commercial sales teams.

Different from earlier program

The new offer follows Microsoft’s layoffs of 4,800 employees, which primarily affected Xbox and commercial sales. Fortune has reported that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is planning additional rounds of layoffs.

Earlier this year, Microsoft offered a voluntary retirement program to about 9,000 US employees. It applied to employees at a certain level whose age and years of service added up to at least 70. The current offer is not based on age, length of service or performance, according to a note on Microsoft’s internal HR website.

Company describes approach

Coleman called the program new for Microsoft and said the company would learn from it. She also said Microsoft would help employees build skills and, when appropriate, find other roles within the company.

Coleman wrote that the company is responding to differing business needs and employee circumstances. Microsoft said it may consider another voluntary exit offer in the future if business and workforce needs warrant one.