Microsoft to Underperformers: Leave Within Five Days with Payout or Face Performance Review

Microsoft Sets Strict Five-Day Deadline for Underperforming Employees to Exit with Severance Offer

Tech giant Microsoft has introduced a major shift in its internal performance management policies. Under the new strategy, employees identified as underperformers will be given a choice: accept a severance payout and leave within five days, or enter a formal performance improvement plan (PIP).

According to a report from Business Insider, which cited internal company documents, this new approach is aimed at streamlining performance evaluations and quickly addressing areas where employees may not be meeting expectations.

The move reflects Microsoft’s effort to tighten workplace standards and drive higher productivity, while offering a swift and dignified exit path for employees who may not wish to undergo the rigorous performance improvement process.

This policy change is part of a broader trend among major tech firms to manage workforce performance more aggressively amid a rapidly evolving industry landscape.