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Microsoft Launches Major Buyout Program for Up to 60,000 Employees

What happened

Reuters reported that Microsoft is launching a voluntary buyout program that could be available to as many as 60,000 employees, covering more than a quarter of its global workforce. Eligible employees span multiple divisions, including teams developing AI solutions, Copilot, Windows and devices, as well as finance, human resources and Xbox; the offer applies to eligible employees in participating teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States at level 70 and below, as Microsoft said on Monday (October 27, 2026). Microsoft Chief People Officer Amy Coleman wrote in an internal memo that the offer gives eligible employees a new choice to transition outside the company with support. Microsoft forecasts capital expenditure of $175 billion for the full year 2026, primarily for artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the buyout program is intended to help reduce operating costs while freeing up resources for further technology investments. According to Microsoft's annual report, the company employed 223,000 full-time employees worldwide as of June 30, 2026, and not all eligible employees are expected to accept the offer.