AI & Jobs Microsoft's First Voluntary Retirement Program in 51 Years: 8,750 Eligible Under the 'Rule of 70', 8–39 Weeks of Cash, 5 Years of Insurance, and a $190B AI Capex Bill the Headcount Is Helping to Pay
On May 7 Microsoft sent eligible employees the full terms of its first-ever Voluntary Retirement Program: 8,750 people on the Rule of 70 list (age + years of service ≥ 70), 8–39 weeks of cash, up to 5 years of healthcare, last day July 1. The same memo arrives the same week the company is on track for $190B of AI capex this fiscal year — making the VRP the politest way Microsoft has ever asked its long-tenured staff to fund the GPU bill.