India, Oct. 27 -- Microsoft introduced a new Voluntary Exit Offer on Monday (October 26) for about 60,000 employees, roughly 27 percent of its 223,000-strong global workforce. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the programme in a memo to staff, calling it a way to give employees "a new choice to make that transition now with support."

The offer covers eligible employees in participating teams in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India, Coleman said. It applies to staff at internal level 70 and below, which includes general managers and some vice presidents but not corporate vice presidents, according to GeekWire, which confirmed the 60,000 figure directly with Microsoft.

Unlike Microsoft's April voluntary retirem...