What does Scott Galloway say about Microsoft's buyout offer to 60,000 employees and how to run layoffs?

Scott Galloway said Microsoft beat expectations with 19% revenue growth and Azure up 48% while offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, and that a few decades ago the headline would have been the job cuts, not the earnings beat. He explained that buyouts usually come with an implied threat of a less generous layoff later, that a company offering 60,000 might expect 40,000 to 50,000 to accept, and that cuts should go deeper than feels comfortable so they happen once.

• Galloway said remote and younger workers are far more likely to be laid off because it is easier to cut people you do not know.
• Before a layoff, Galloway advises telling the most important people why they matter.
• Galloway opposes having security walk people out and suggests continued pay, insurance and job-search help where a company can afford it.

▸In their words

“10% of the employees add 120% of the value, and the other 90% are negative 20.” Scott Galloway · at 36:16 — open in the transcript →

“My view on layoffs is you're rapacious about the decision and you are generous with terms.” Scott Galloway · at 38:34 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Pivot (2026-10-30). Read the whole episode summary →

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