Microsoft announced the opening of a voluntary resignation program for approximately 60 thousand employees, amid the company's efforts to reduce costs and restructure its workforce focused on artificial intelligence. The offer was disclosed in a message sent to employees by the company's Chief Human Resources Officer, Amy Coleman, on October 26, 2026.
The plan is available to employees in vice president roles or lower in specific teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Certain groups of workers, including parts of the data center, sales, and marketing teams, are not eligible for the program. According to the company, professionals who join will receive benefits similar to a conventional severance package.
The Chief Human Resources Officer stated in the communication that the initiative offers eligible employees a new option to transition out of the organization with support, in addition to giving the company's units another way to adapt the workforce to changing needs. Microsoft reported expecting a much smaller number of acceptances compared to a previous voluntary retirement proposal held in April, which was accepted by about a third of the 8,750 eligible workers.
At the end of June 2026, Microsoft had 223 thousand employees, a level that has remained practically stable since 2022, a period during which the tech giant intensified investments in artificial intelligence and data centers.