About 60,000 Microsoft employees, including in India, are offered a voluntary exit
27 October 2026 · 2 min read · HireHo
Based on reports by KIRO 7 (26 October 2026) and TheStreet (27 October 2026), summarised in HireHo's own words. Summarised in our own words.
Microsoft has made a voluntary exit offer to about 60,000 employees, which is more than a quarter of its global workforce, according to reports of an internal memo on 26 October 2026. The offer covers eligible staff in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India.
Who can take it
TheStreet reports the offer is for employees at internal level 70 and below. It says sales teams, certain engineering groups and some corporate functions are not included, and that participation varies by business unit.
What is on offer
Microsoft has not released the full terms. KIRO 7 reports a standard severance package based on the employee's location. TheStreet says earlier US packages covered at least 60 days of base pay and could reach 39 weeks. Employees have until early December to decide, and those who accept are due to leave by the end of the year.
Is this a layoff?
It is a voluntary offer, so people choose whether to leave. TheStreet reports that an earlier voluntary retirement programme was offered to about 9,000 people and about one third accepted. It also reports that Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs through involuntary layoffs in 2026.
What this means for you
- If you work at Microsoft India, read the terms carefully and ask HR how the offer applies to your level.
- Experienced tech talent may enter the job market from December, so competition for senior roles may rise.
- Employers may find skilled candidates available from the new year.
The reports we checked do not say how many India employees are eligible.