Maha Job-crisis :::: Microsoft offers voluntary exit to 60,000 staff in India, US and UK amid AI spending ::::: "This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice

 Eligibility covers participating teams across India, Canada, Britain and the United States

AI experiences, Copilot, finance, HR, Xbox and Windows teams are included

Microsoft forecasts $175 billion in capital expenditure for calendar year 2026  

Multiple tech companies have announced layoffs due to the rise of AI and increased investment in the technology this year. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced plans in April to cut 10% of its personnel, or about 8,000 employees, to boost efficiency. 

Amazon has made several cuts to its workforce, most recently in its retail division. And in June, Oracle shed its workforce by nearly 13%, cutting 21,000 jobs, as a result of AI.

But it’s unclear whether these workforce-reduction measures have translated yet into greater efficiency. 

Some companies, including Meta, have scaled back their layoff plans. A top leader of Microsoft, Ryan Roslansky, recently complained about “AI slop” in the workforce on social media.

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 eligible employees across major divisions. The move seeks to contain workforce costs while the company invests heavily in AI infrastructure.   

The time-limited buyout programme will be available to eligible employees at level 70 and below in participating teams across the four countries, Microsoft said. Employees will receive details of the offer, which allows them to leave the company voluntarily with support, within hours of the announcement.

The programme will cover eligible employees across several divisions, including AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox and Windows + Devices, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, requesting anonymity because the matter was private. Marketing, commercial business and security teams will be excluded.

The offer comes as Microsoft and other technology giants pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, including data centres and chips, prompting investors to question whether the returns will justify the enormous spending.    

Chief People Officer Amy Coleman outlined the rationale behind the initiative in a staff memo.

"This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support. It also gives participating organizations another way to adapt their workforce to changing needs," Coleman said.

Microsoft described the initiative as a time-limited, voluntary programme that builds on insights gained from an earlier voluntary retirement programme. Eligible employees were expected to receive details within the next few hours, the company said on Monday.

According to Microsoft's annual filing, the company had 223,000 full-time employees globally as of June 30, 2026.