Microsoft offers voluntary departure packages to about 60,000 staff

Microsoft is offering voluntary departure packages to about 60,000 employees in the US, Canada, India and the UK as it seeks to cut costs. The offer’s terms are comparable to severance pay, according to a report by Nieuws.nl, citing ANP and Bloomberg.

The eligible group represents a substantial portion of Microsoft’s workforce: the company had 223,000 employees at the end of June. The offer is aimed at staff considering leaving, rather than being described as compulsory redundancies.

Microsoft introduced a separate scheme in July for 8,750 employees approaching retirement age. About 30% took it up. A company spokesperson said Microsoft expects the new offer to be less popular.

Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s head of human resources, wrote to staff on Monday that the offer gave employees considering leaving “a new option to take that step, with support”. The company has cut tens of thousands of jobs in recent reorganisations and is placing increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence, the report said.