{
  "id": 16680784,
  "title": "Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to 60,000 staff",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/microsoft-offers-voluntary-exit-packages-to-60-000-staff-16680784",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T22:37:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/27/microsoft-offers-voluntary-exit-packages-to-60-000-staff"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit package for approximately 60,000 employees, representing roughly a quarter of its global workforce. The tech giant aims to reduce costs while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. Eligible employees, including those in vice president-level positions and below, are located in the United States, Canada, India, and Britain. Some groups, such as those working on data centers, sales, and marketing, are excluded from the offer. The voluntary exit program is a response to Microsoft's evolving approach to change, offering employees more flexibility and options for their next career chapter. This is the second voluntary buyout offer by Microsoft this year, following a similar initiative in April targeting around seven percent of its US workforce. The company is expected to report earnings later in the week, and tech layoffs continue to be a concern as major firms pour billions into AI infrastructure.",
  "summary": "Staff at vice-president level and below in select teams across the US, Canada, India and Britain will be eligible as the tech giant seeks to cut costs and invest in AI.",
  "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."
}