Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement buyouts to up to 7% of its U.S. workforce (about 8,750 employees) the first program of its kind in the company’s 51-year history.
Eligibility is based on a “rule of 70,” meaning an employee’s age plus years of service must total at least 70 (with some exceptions).
The move is seen as a less disruptive alternative to layoffs, allowing the company to reduce headcount more gradually. It follows several recent job cuts, including 9,000 layoffs last summer.
Microsoft had roughly 125,000 U.S. employees, and this initiative reflects a broader trend in the tech industry of restructuring workforces amid shifting priorities.
