Huo Xing Cai Jing reports, according to Caixin, Microsoft stated on October 26 local time that it will offer a voluntary separation package to approximately 60,000 employees to reduce costs and restructure its workforce for the AI era. More than a quarter of its workforce is eligible, marking the company’s third round of workforce adjustments this year. The spokesperson said that vice presidents and below in the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K. are eligible to apply; those who accept the package will receive benefits comparable to standard severance terms. According to insiders, departments including Xbox, Windows, Copilot, and Finance will fully participate, while employees in areas such as data centers, sales, marketing, cybersecurity, and quantum computing are not eligible. Chief Human Resources Officer Amy Coleman stated in an internal memo that the program offers employees considering departure a path to transition with company support and serves as another means for departments to restructure their teams. The spokesperson also noted that if top talent accepts the offer, the company may attempt to retain them in certain cases. In April, Microsoft launched its first voluntary retirement program targeting approximately 8,750 eligible U.S. employees, with over 30% accepting; in July, it announced the layoff of about 4,800 employees, representing roughly 2.1% of its workforce. The spokesperson expects significantly fewer acceptances for this round compared to the voluntary retirement program. As of June 30, Microsoft’s total workforce stood at 223,000. According to its July 29 financial report, capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 amounted to $41 billion, a year-over-year increase of about 70%, with projected capital expenditures of approximately $50 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.
Microsoft Offers Voluntary Exit Program to 60,000 Employees
MarsBitShare
Summary
On October 26, 2026, Microsoft announced a voluntary exit program for approximately 60,000 employees—over a quarter of its workforce—as part of cost-cutting and restructuring efforts for the AI era. The initiative targets vice presidents and below in the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K., including departments such as Xbox, Windows, Copilot, and finance. Data centers, sales, marketing, cybersecurity, and quantum computing are excluded. This marks the company’s third workforce adjustment in 2026, following a voluntary retirement plan in April and a reduction of 4,800 jobs in July. The move may impact the Fear & Greed Index, with certain altcoins reacting to broader shifts in market sentiment.
Source:Show original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KuCoin. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.
Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure.