New Delhi: Google has expanded a programme offering employees financial compensation to leave their jobs voluntarily to five countries, as the technology giant seeks to control workforce costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence (AI).

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The Alphabet-owned company began offering voluntary exit packages to select employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland in June, according to a Reuters report. Under the programme, eligible employees can choose to resign in exchange for a compensation package instead of facing compulsory layoffs.

The latest expansion comes as Google and other major technology companies invest heavily in AI infrastructure, including data centres and advanced computing systems. The rising expenditure has increased pressure from investors to demonstrate returns on these investments.

Google has not disclosed how many employees have accepted the latest buyout offers.

"In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit programme with severance. This past summer, in June, we expanded this programme globally in a few countries to support our important work ahead," a Google spokesperson told Reuters.

Which Google employees are being offered money to quit?

The latest programme follows similar voluntary exit schemes introduced in certain Google divisions in the United States and Britain since last year.

The company has described the offers as an option for employees who no longer feel aligned with its pace or direction.

However, Google's key artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations appear to be outside the programme. Employees in Google Cloud and DeepMind, the company's AI research division, were excluded from previous rounds of voluntary buyout offers. The latest expansion appears to follow the same pattern.

In Switzerland, where Google employs around 5,000 people and operates a major engineering centre in Zurich, the programme covered several divisions but excluded DeepMind, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Google announced the packages in mid-June and gave employees until mid-July to respond. Those who accepted began leaving in August.

The compensation package offered one month's salary for every year of service, subject to a maximum of 12 months' salary. For instance, an employee with five years of service would receive five months' salary. At least four employees in one team of around 50 reportedly accepted the offer.Google has not revealed the total number of employees covered by the latest programme or how many have opted to leave.
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Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees

Google's move comes shortly after Microsoft announced a voluntary buyout programme covering approximately 60,000 employees, as it seeks to manage costs amid massive investments in AI.

The programme was open to employees at level 70 and below in participating teams across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India.

Eligible divisions included AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox and Windows + Devices. Marketing, commercial business and security teams were excluded.

Microsoft Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said the initiative would help employees considering opportunities outside the company make the transition with financial support. It would also allow participating divisions to adjust their workforce to changing business requirements.

The announcement followed an earlier voluntary buyout programme covering around 9,000 employees, or approximately 7% of Microsoft's US workforce. The company also announced 4,800 job cuts in July as part of a restructuring of its Xbox gaming business.
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Why are tech giants restructuring amid AI investments?

Google and Microsoft's workforce decisions reflect the growing financial demands of the global AI race.

Technology companies are spending heavily on data centres, advanced chips and computing infrastructure to develop and operate AI services. These investments have significantly increased costs, while investors are looking for clearer evidence of future returns.

Google, meanwhile, continues to identify AI and cloud computing as priority areas for recruitment. Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi has repeatedly highlighted these divisions as key hiring priorities during quarterly earnings presentations.

The voluntary exit programmes indicate how the company is attempting to redirect resources towards areas it considers central to its future growth, while managing staffing costs in other divisions.

Unlike compulsory layoffs, voluntary buyouts allow eligible employees to decide whether to leave in exchange for financial compensation. However, in some cases, Google has followed voluntary exit offers with layoffs.

The company had also laid off more than 200 employees in Switzerland in 2023, triggering staff protests and a walkout.