Microsoft offers buyout for up to 7% of U.S. employees

In a significant move, Microsoft has launched its first-ever voluntary retirement buyout program in over half a century, according to recent reports from CNBC and Bloomberg. Eligibility for this program is based on a combination of an employee's age and years of service at the company. Specifically, employees whose total years at Microsoft plus their age reach 70 or more may qualify, with some exceptions. For instance, a 52-year-old employee with 18 years of tenure would be eligible for the buyout. This strategic decision allows Microsoft to manage its workforce reduction in a more considerate manner, avoiding the harsher impacts of mass layoffs. The tech giant has already faced several rounds of job cuts in recent years, recently terminating 9,000 positions last summer alone. As of June, Microsoft employed approximately 125,000 individuals in the U.S. The voluntary buyout program could potentially affect about 7% of the U.S. workforce, translating to around 8,750 employees. TechCrunch has reached out to Microsoft for further details on this initiative.