Microsoft plans first voluntary employee buyout in company's 51-year history

> Microsoft’s one-time retirement program will be open to U.S. workers at the senior director level and below whose years of employment and age add up to 70 or more.

looks like a mechanism to clear out some L65+'s

I guess they had to do the 'voluntary' bit as otherwise they are likely looking at a class action lawsuit claiming blatant age discrimination.

If you are eligible though, I wonder just how 'voluntary' the process actually is, esp if the company tells you that a PIP is coming otherwise (of course in a nice, legally defensible way)

Age discrimination.