Microsoft kicks off its first US voluntary retirement plan and overhauls pay rewards

Microsoft will offer a one-time voluntary retirement program in the United States for eligible employees at or below senior director level whose combined age and years of service total 70 or more, affecting about 7% of U.S. staff; details arrive May 7. The company is also decoupling stock awards from cash bonuses to give managers more flexibility in recognizing performance and is simplifying the pay-review process from nine to five options.