Microsoft has introduced a new Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO) for eligible employees across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. The programme could cover approximately 60,000 workers, giving them the option to leave the company with financial support and career planning resources.
The offer was announced on October 26, 2026, in a communication from Amy Coleman, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. According to Microsoft's announcement, the programme is available to employees at internal level 70 and below in participating teams.
However, the offer does not extend to every employee or department. Microsoft said participation varies according to individual business priorities, customer commitments and workforce requirements.
Which Microsoft Employees Are Eligible for the Voluntary Exit Offer?
The VEO is available to eligible employees in participating organisations across four countries: the US, Canada, the UK and India.
The programme covers employees at internal level 70 and below, a wider eligibility range than Microsoft's earlier voluntary retirement initiative in 2026. This means the latest offer can include some employees in senior positions, depending on their level and whether their organisation is participating.
Microsoft has not published a complete list of eligible teams or disclosed individual exit package terms in its public announcement. Eligible employees were informed that they would receive an email containing details specific to their offer.
Reports have identified teams across areas including Copilot, AI experiences, Windows and Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources among those participating. Some employees in sales, marketing and data centre operations are reportedly excluded.
The company has not announced a target number of departures. A Microsoft spokesperson told Fortune that the company expects fewer than 5% of the approximately 60,000 eligible employees to accept the offer.
A Second Voluntary Exit Programme in 2026
The latest offer follows Microsoft's first voluntary retirement programme, introduced earlier in 2026 for a group of eligible US employees.
The company has also undertaken workforce reductions during the year, including changes affecting its gaming business. In July, Microsoft announced thousands of job cuts as part of a broader organisational restructuring.
The new VEO represents another approach to workforce adjustments, allowing eligible employees to consider leaving voluntarily rather than making an immediate decision in response to an involuntary redundancy announcement.
Microsoft has described the programme as a way to give employees more flexibility in planning their next career move while allowing participating organisations to adapt their workforces to changing needs.
