Microsoft Rolls Out Voluntary Exit Plan Across Four Major Markets

Microsoft has rolled out a voluntary exit plan for employees across India, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The program could involve close to 60,000 employees, as the company tries to manage its rising AI spending alongside its salary framework.

The details were revealed on Monday in a message sent to employees and in a blog post on the company's official website.

Amy Coleman, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, said the program is time-bound. Eligible staff will be given financial support and career planning resources if they decide to move on.

The plan applies to eligible employees at Level 70 or below in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. The company has not revealed the exact total number of people who qualify.

According to reports, about 60,000 employees could come under the scheme, which is nearly 27 percent of Microsoft's roughly 2.23 lakh workforce. How many employees in India are eligible has not been disclosed.

Microsoft has made it clear that the program is not open to all teams. Participation in different units depends on business priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs.

Included teams, according to reports, are Copilot, CoreAI, Windows and Devices, Xbox, Finance and Human Resources. Marketing, Commercial Business, Quantum and Security teams are not part of the plan.

Employees must make a choice on the proposal in December. Those who accept will leave Microsoft on December 31.

The program comes at a time when Microsoft is pouring significant resources into AI infrastructure and data centers. Back in July, the company had also announced the layoff of around 4,800 employees from its Xbox and Commercial Sales teams.