More companies like Microsoft are using buyouts. Should you take one?

This story is relevant to Chinese readers in the US mainly on the job front: it reports that voluntary exits have become a more attractive option than layoffs at a number of companies, and that Microsoft announced voluntary buyouts for 60,000 people, more than a quarter of its workforce, this week. For workers at companies using voluntary buyouts, the practical question is whether to accept a voluntary exit offer rather than face layoffs. The article does not provide details on visa status, pay, benefits, or family impact, so readers should treat those aspects as unspecified.