{
  "id": 16644968,
  "title": "Microsoft wants to cut up to 60,000 employees with one big employee buyout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/microsoft-wants-to-cut-up-to-60-000-employees-with-one-big-employee",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-26T18:54:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "XDA Developers",
    "slug": "xda-developers",
    "url": "https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-wants-to-cut-up-to-60000-employees-with-one-big-employee-buyout/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Microsoft is planning to cut up to 60,000 employees through a voluntary employee buyout (VEO) as the company continues to downsize. The offer, which was recently announced to employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, provides eligible workers with the option to take a buyout and receive additional support in transitioning to a new career path. This is a significant change from previous Microsoft initiatives, which only offered such buyouts to employees at or above level 70. The VEO applies to a diverse range of departments, including AI experiences, Copilot, CoreAI, Windows + Devices, Xbox, finance, and human resources teams. Although the exact number of employees offered the buyout is not specified, sources familiar with the announcement suggest that 60,000 individuals have received this opportunity.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}