The package mirrors Microsoft's standard severance and lacks the extended healthcare of April's retirement scheme; exact terms are being shared with staff individually.

Microsoft's new Voluntary Exit Offer, open to about 60,000 employees, is built on the company's standard severance terms rather than a richer, purpose-made deal.

What does the voluntary exit package include?

According to GeekWire, Microsoft says the package is equivalent to its standard severance. That covers base pay linked to tenure and level, continued stock vesting, healthcare for a fixed period and career transition services. A company spokesperson told KUOW that standard severance varies by market, so terms will differ for employees in the US, Canada, India and the UK. No country-specific figures have been made public.

How does it differ from April's retirement programme?