EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE
7 reasons why organisations & HR leaders should nominate for the ET HR Excellence Awards 2027
The ET HR Excellence Awards 2027 celebrate the transformative efforts of organizations and HR leaders making a significant impact in workplace culture. These prestigious awards shine a light on initiatives that enrich employee experiences and show real business results. Now is the time to submit nominations and share your stories of success in the dynamic world of HR.
Amid layoff season, this Bengaluru company is paying employees to quit and start their own business and return back if things don't work out
Amid layoffs and voluntary buyout offers at global tech companies, Bengaluru-based iD Fresh Food is encouraging employees to quit and start their own businesses. CEO Musthafa PC's entrepreneurship policy offers a partially paid sabbatical, mentorship, access to the company's business network and an option to return if their ventures fail.
Online festive sales miss estimates; Munjal steps down as Unacademy CEO
Happpy Thursday! Online festive sales grew, but fell short of expectations amid weak smartphone demand.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Qualcomm global recast may cost 1,000 jobs in India
The US chipmaker employs about 20,000 people in India, mainly at its engineering and design facilities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and the National Capital Region. ET first reported in October that its global restructuring could affect 600-1,000 jobs in India.
Xiaomi eyes local partners; Electronics firms target AI infra
Xiaomi is looking for local partners as it plans to manufacture home appliances in India. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Tech layoffs were just the start: 1.6 million more US job cuts could push America toward recession
US technology layoffs have crossed 200,000 in 2026, with Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other major companies cutting jobs. But the bigger concern is whether the trend will spread to retail and financial services, where another 1.6 million job losses could push unemployment higher and raise fears of a US recession.

Qualcomm layoffs severance package: 3 months' salary, extra payout based on years of service & one more month's pay for signing exit papers within 3 days; what employees are being offered
Qualcomm has reportedly begun laying off employees in India as part of a global workforce restructuring exercise that could affect around 1,000 staff, or 5–6% of its workforce in the country. Reports suggest affected employees may be offered three months' salary as severance, with additional compensation based on tenure and an extra month's pay for those who sign exit documents within three days. Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed the reported severance package.

Qualcomm initiates India layoffs: Here’s how much employees will get in severance
Qualcomm has begun implementing planned job cuts globally, affecting employees in India and the US (in California).

Using ChatGPT at work could make your boss trust you less, even if you deliver better results, study of managers warns
A new study spanning six experiments finds that employees who use ChatGPT and other AI tools at work may be seen as less trustworthy by their bosses, even when they deliver better results. Researchers found that managers were more likely to trust employees who worked independently, while clear company policies encouraging AI use could help reduce the trust penalty.

Anthropic expands Claude into spreadsheets, dashboards and collaborative workplace tools
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has expanded its Claude platform with new tools for creating spreadsheets, digital whiteboards and data dashboards, broadening its capabilities in workplace productivity and collaboration.

Is your HR strategy creating measurable impact? This could be the time to get it recognised
The Economic Times HR Excellence Awards 2027 shine a light on exemplary HR practices within various organizations, teams, and leaders. Encompassing 42 categories, the awards highlight significant accomplishments in realms like HR transformation, talent acquisition, employee experience, and workplace culture, showcasing how effective people strategies can directly enhance business performance.

Microsoft employees raise concerns over AI strategy amid 60,000-person buyout offer
The letter, cited in a report byThe New York Times, accuses Microsoft of pursuing AI with a “speed-at-all-costs” approach and urges the company to stop linking employees' use of AI tools to performance rewards or reprimands.
Companies want AI-powered customer service; EY says they need a bigger reset
Adopting artificial intelligence tools alone is insufficient for companies aiming to enhance customer service operations. They need to redesign their operating models and workforce capabilities, as highlighted in an EY report. Assessing existing operations and identifying gaps are crucial first steps in this transformation process. Additionally, integrating AI into existing systems is necessary to drive measurable business outcomes and improve customer experiences.

From Tata Tiago to Hyundai i20 and Harrier, Jodhpur company surprises employees with brand-new cars this Diwali
A Jodhpur-based education marketing agency, Mediagarh, surprised four employees with brand-new cars as Diwali gifts during its annual Sneh Milan 3.0 celebration on Dhanteras. The company gifted two Tata Tiagos, a Hyundai i20 and a Tata Harrier to employees in recognition of their performance and contributions. Continuing a tradition started two years ago, Mediagarh increased its car giveaways from one in the first year to four this Diwali.

Compulsory retirement order is neither punitive nor stigmatic in character: SC
The Supreme Court upheld the Chhattisgarh government's order of compulsory retirement for several employees. It noted such orders are not punitive or indicative of misconduct against the employees. The court emphasised the importance of objective evaluations when determining an employee's suitability for continued service. It clarified that the decision should not be based on mere conjecture or whim.

Why Big Tech companies Microsoft, Google, Meta and others are opting for voluntary buyouts
In response to fluctuating market demands, Meta has rolled out voluntary exit packages in France aimed at workforce restructuring. This initiative is part of a broader trend as tech giants like Google and Microsoft implement similar measures globally to optimize costs. These packages offer employees the choice to depart with financial incentives and transition support, showcasing a more favorable approach compared to traditional layoffs amidst economic uncertainty.

AI gains fail to cool rising staff costs at Indian IT services firms
Although artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are changing the traditional labour-intensive model of IT services, they have yet to bring down employee costs for the country’s top six IT services companies—Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and LTM (formerly LTIMindtree).

36-48 months of salary as Diwali bonus, rumours or true? Micron's bonanza to Indian employees confirmed by techie
Micron employees in India are reportedly receiving massive Diwali bonuses, with some payouts allegedly running into several times their annual salaries. Reddit discussions and posts on X have highlighted claims of employees receiving lakhs in cash and additional stock awards. One recently hired employee reportedly received Rs 12 lakh in cash and Rs 8 lakh worth of RSUs against an annual package of Rs 7-8 lakh.

As HR takes on a larger business role, are organisations recognising the teams driving that change?
The Economic Times HR Excellence Awards 2027 spotlight the transformative nature of HR within organizations, underlining their crucial role in shaping business strategy, fostering talent development, and enhancing employee experiences. With six distinct award categories such as Talent Acquisition and Employee Experience, this initiative serves to honor HR teams that significantly boost organizational performance and drive workforce change.
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