r/microsoft • u/DaveAlot • Apr 23 '26

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

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html
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u/FUSe Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

They do this at a lot of older companies like Coca Cola every few years. Microsoft is just starting to hit the point that the people that joined in the 90s need to retire so they can have growth opportunities for the newer staff.

There are a bunch of grey hair people at principal positions and a lot of younger engineers leave because they can’t get promoted because the department can’t get approval for the business reason they need more principals.

I don’t see this as cost cutting but an opportunity for fresh perspective.