A nine-year veteran of Qualcomm, who joined the company at 24 and rose to earn a salary of Rs 70 lakh, is among those potentially affected by job cuts announced by the chipmaker. The company, which has reportedly initiated layoffs in India with around 1,000 roles at risk, claims this move is part of a "performance-focused reduction" under CEO Cristiano Amon's leadership.
The impending layoffs have personal implications for many employees, as demonstrated by a social media post highlighting the case of a woman who built her career at Qualcomm and relied on her income to meet expenses like a home loan EMI and her daughter's school fees. The employee's financial security was closely tied to her years of service with the company, with expectations of receiving stock next year also factored into her plans.
The post questions the timing of the cuts, citing pressure in the smartphone chip business, Apple's efforts to develop its own modem technology, and growing investment towards artificial intelligence data centers. The post argues that many affected engineers did not fail at their work but were victims of changing business priorities. Finding another job at the same salary may prove challenging, particularly for professionals with 15 years of experience earning around Rs 1 crore.
The layoffs are linked to changes in Qualcomm's business, as smartphone chip sales face pressure, Apple develops its own modem technology, and investment shifts towards artificial intelligence and data centers. India Today reports that Qualcomm may cut approximately 7% of its global workforce of around 52,000 employees, which translates to about 3,600 jobs. In India, the company has around 20,000 employees across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Chennai, with cuts expected to affect both experienced engineers and recent hires. The company has also been facing pressure in its handset business, with handset revenue declining 25% in its latest quarter, according to the report.
(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)