Microsoft offers a quarter of employees a severance package to cut costs

Microsoft has introduced a new option for employees considering leaving the company, affecting around 60,000 of its 223,000 workforce. This move is linked to the rise of AI and the associated costs, as the company invests heavily in data centers. Last summer, Microsoft offered a departure plan for 8,750 employees nearing retirement age, with only 30% opting for it. The company anticipates a lower uptake for the new offer, with employees needing to decide by December whether to stay or leave, with contracts ending on December 31.