Microsoft said Monday it is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly one-quarter of its global workforce, as the technology company invests more in artificial intelligence.3
The company calls them voluntary exit offers. They are available to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, and employees must be at the vice president level or below to qualify.3
The announcement was presented in different terms by different outlets. CNBC's headline described the offers as arriving as AI leads to an efficiency push, while The Washington Times's headline tied them to accelerating AI spending. CBS News's headline said Microsoft is pouring money into AI, and its story said the company is investing more in the technology.1,2,3
The reports did not say how much the buyouts would pay, how long employees have to decide, or how many workers the company expects to accept. They also did not say whether Microsoft plans job cuts beyond the voluntary offers.1,2,3
In announcing the program, Microsoft's chief people officer, Amy Coleman, described the offer as a way for workers to make a change if they choose.3
"This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support," Amy Coleman, Microsoft's chief people officer, said.3
