Microsoft Offers Buyouts to 60,000 Workers as $175 Billion AI Spending Drives Efficiency Push

Microsoft is extending voluntary buyout offers to approximately 60,000 employees—nearly a quarter of its global workforce—as the company juggles massive artificial intelligence infrastructure investments with demands for cost containment. The offer, announced on October 26, 2026, applies to workers at Level 70 and below across the US, Canada, United Kingdom, and India, with a decision deadline in early December and exit date of December 31. The package includes severance pay (up to 39 weeks depending on tenure and level), continued stock vesting, healthcare coverage, and career transition services, with no age or tenure requirements factoring into eligibility.