Microsoft launches Voluntary Exit Offer, reportedly open to about 60,000 staff

Microsoft has launched a Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO), a time-limited program that lets eligible employees leave with a financial package and support finding their next role. Participation is voluntary. 80 Level reported the news on October 27.

The scale comes from Reuters, which cited an anonymous source. It says about 60,000 employees, more than a quarter of the workforce, are eligible. The report says the aim is to cut costs and help fund AI investments. The sources provided do not include a company statement confirming either the headcount or that stated aim.

Eligible staff include those working on AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox, and Windows + Devices. Marketing, commercial business, and security teams are excluded. The offer covers employees at level 70 and below in participating teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In a company blog post, Chief People Officer Amy Coleman described the VEO as a choice for people who may be considering a future outside Microsoft, and as another way for participating organizations to adapt their workforce to changing needs. She said it builds on what the company learned from its Voluntary Retirement Program. In April, that program offered buyouts to workers whose age and years of service totaled at least 70.

For developers on Xbox and Windows teams, and for studios and partners who work with them, the sources do not say how many people will accept or what changes might follow. The offer is time-limited, and the sources do not give its deadline or the terms of the financial package.