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Microsoft buyouts cover 60,000 staff, about 27%
The Indian Express·
Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly 27% of its workforce, while spending heavily on AI data centres. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the offer Monday for eligible staff in Canada, India, the UK and the US. Microsoft reported about 223,000 full-time employees at June's end. Shares rose about 1% Monday after a record high this month.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Eligible employees in four countries must review individual email terms Coleman said would arrive within hours.
- Workers who accept receive benefits similar to a standard Microsoft severance package.
- Quarterly financial results due Wednesday follow the workforce announcement.
What's Happening
- Coleman wrote the company will learn from its first voluntary exit offer while focusing staff on core work.
- In July Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs, about 2.1% of global staff, including many at Xbox.
- In May it planned buyouts for about 8,750 US employees, or 7% of that national workforce.
Microsoft June headcount filing
- Data centre investment to power AI may top $700 billion this year, pressuring equipment and electricity costs.
- Microsoft introduced Copilot-focused AI PCs in 2024 and a Mico assistant character in October 2025.
- The Redmond-based company has run multiple job-cut rounds while expanding AI capabilities.
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