Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit program for about 60,000 employees in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India. That is more than a quarter of the approximately 223,000 people it employed at the end of June. The offer allows eligible workers to leave with payments and other support.
Participation is limited to selected teams, and employees have until early December to decide. Those who accept will leave on December 31. Payments depend on their length of service, while other terms vary according to local labor laws.
Although the offer covers a large group, Microsoft expects fewer than 5% of eligible employees to accept. The company says its aim is not to significantly reduce its workforce. Instead, it says it wants employees with the right skills in the right positions.
The announcement comes as Microsoft spends heavily on data centers and equipment for artificial intelligence, or AI. Microsoft says AI is not driving its voluntary exit programs, but some economists interpret the offer as part of a shift toward more equipment and fewer workers. They see the company's changing spending and staffing as signs of a business becoming more dependent on expensive technology.
