The Daily Corporate Desk
Dhaka, 27 October 2026: Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to approximately 60,000 employees across selected teams, giving eligible staff the option to leave the company with financial support as the technology giant continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI).
The programme covers around 27% of Microsoft’s global workforce of approximately 223,000 employees, based on its headcount at the end of June 2026. The company confirmed the offer on Monday, 26 October, according to reports by Reuters and The Associated Press.
The initiative is available to eligible employees at vice-president level and below in participating teams in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. However, eligibility varies across business units, depending on operational priorities and workforce requirements.
According to Reuters, participating divisions include AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox, and Windows and Devices. Some employees in areas such as marketing, commercial business and security are excluded, while certain data-centre roles are also ineligible, according to other media reports.
Microsoft Chief People Officer Amy Coleman described the Voluntary Exit Offer as a time-limited programme designed to give eligible employees greater flexibility in planning their next career steps. The company said participants would receive financial support and career-planning resources.
The programme comes as Microsoft expands its AI capabilities and invests in the infrastructure required to support AI and cloud services. The company has also undertaken workforce restructuring this year, including a voluntary retirement programme earlier in the year and job cuts announced in July.
Microsoft has not announced a target for the number of employees expected to accept the latest offer. The programme therefore represents an opportunity for eligible staff to leave voluntarily rather than a confirmed plan to eliminate 60,000 jobs.
The development highlights how major technology companies are reassessing workforce structures while balancing operating costs, business priorities and investment in emerging technologies.
