points by paxy 3 days ago | 0 comments
This was announced back in April. Lot better than doing layoffs imo. If someone is already checked out then giving them an incentive to leave works out for both sides.
[–] swiftcoder 3 days ago
[–] noident 3 days ago
In my experience it's more the case that 70% of employees are checked out
[–] warmedcookie 3 days ago
This is my experience too, although probably not checked out enough to take a voluntary severance. Most people just want to chill and work at a steady pace. That kind of work ethic is fine for most industries, but not tech companies unfortunately.
[–] compiler-guy 3 days ago
It is much better than optics friendly, because it gives the affected people a chance to determine their own destiny.
Layoffs absolutely suck, and there is likely more pain on the way, but if the alternatives are voluntary buyouts + layoffs vs plain layoffs, the first is much better.
[–] surajrmal 2 days ago
These layoffs are to give folks who want to leave the chance to leave. Many people are unhappy after layoffs because they would have happily given been laid off if it meant saving one of their colleagues. I honestly think it's not in Microsoft's interest to offer it given the fact they'll on average lose higher quality employees. We should really be celebrating it to encourage them to keep up the practice and others to adopt it.
[–] pooloo 3 days ago
I think the April instance was a different one all-together but that was also followed with layoffs in July. Seems they expect less than 30% of the 60,000 to take the deal?
https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-makes-new-voluntary-...
[–] ThrowawayB7 3 days ago
MS has had many rounds of layoffs already in the past 2-3 years. If there was anyone visibly checked out, they'd have been gone quite a while ago.
[–] j45 3 days ago
This many layoffs is likely far beyond "checked out" employees.
It's probably taking advantage of economic arbitrage, plus healthy beliefs in what AI can maintain.
The interesting thing will be to see what new things companies who do this can achieve.
The question above whether to take it now or try to delay taking a package is an interesting thought.
[–] drstewart 3 days ago
>This many layoffs is likely far beyond "checked out" employees.
25% offers != 25% layoffs
[–] j45 3 days ago
Good point. up to 25% is no small number either.
After offers, they could enforce any percentage of layoffs up to 25%, no?
Offers often come before layoffs, no?
[–] orra 3 days ago
In April, 7% was the announced figure. This is several times higher.
This is just an optics-friendly way to soften the blow of 25% layoffs.