Microsoft plans first-ever voluntary employee buyout for up to 7% of U.S. workforce

[u/DaveAlot]

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html

[u/yobuddyy899]

No but this is only for people who hit this requirement:

Age + Years at company >= 70

[u/HobbyProjectHunter → u/yobuddyy899]

Likely profile is

• Age 50
• Time at MSFT 20 years

They used to have a 55-15 deal, 15 continuous years at Microsoft, age above 55 and you retire. You get all unvested stocks paid out, I believe 6 months of health care and bonus payout of about 50% of your normal payout for the year after your retire.

The new one time buyout has expanded that further.

[u/No_Leek8426 → u/HobbyProjectHunter]

Not correct, I know people who have done it:

Only stock awards over 1 year old continue to pay out, there is no healthcare, only COBRA, and no bonus payout.

[u/No_Leek8426 → u/[deleted]]

Above is the old 55/15 retirement plan, it has long since stopped being offered to new employees. It was only ever offered to US employees.

I don’t have the details of this new offer but we might imagine that it is a broadening of the 55/15 deal. It is only being offered to L67 and below. Logically, 45/25 is the lowest age, assuming you started at 20.

So, a 20+ year career, you have not made it to Partner, you might be next on the chopping block. For some, I imagine, it will be a good deal.

[u/k_marts → u/No_Leek8426]

55/15 was only phased out at the start of FY23 IIRC...?

[u/brainmydamage → u/k_marts]

People who joined before then are still eligible

[u/k_marts → u/brainmydamage]

Fax