Microsoft offers voluntary exit scheme to 60,000 employees in India, 3 other countries

Microsoft has introduced a Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO) for eligible employees in India, Canada, the UK and the US, as the software giant spends heavily on artificial intelligence.

As part of the voluntary buyout, the tech giant is offering financial support and career planning resources to those opting to leave the company.

The offer is voluntary, and its availability will vary across teams depending on business priorities, customer commitments and workforce requirements, she said.

" This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support," Coleman said.

Eligible employees will receive an email with a link to details of the offer, she added.

The initiative builds on the company's experience with a Voluntary Retirement Program introduced earlier this year.

"The Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we're evolving our approach to change: creating greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next chapter," Coleman said.

She said the company would continue to help employees develop new skills and explore opportunities within Microsoft where appropriate.

The announcement comes as the technology major prepares to report its quarterly financial results on Wednesday.

Microsoft had approximately 2,23,000 full-time employees at the end of June.

It has about 23,000 employees in India, although there is no immediate clarity on how many of them would be eligible for the voluntary exit programme.

Globally, around 60,000 employees are eligible.

It is learnt that eligible employees in India will have until December 1 to decide on the voluntary exit offer.

The company has undertaken multiple rounds of job cuts this year.

In May, Microsoft planned to offer buyouts to around 8,750 employees, or 7% of its US workforce, according to two people familiar with the plan who were not authorised to speak publicly.

In July, the company announced cuts affecting 4,800 jobs, around 2.1 % of its global workforce, including a large number of employees in its Xbox video game business.

Shares of Microsoft Corp., based in Redmond, Washington, hit an all-time high this month.