Business & Finance
Qualcomm Layoffs Prompt Mixed Reactions from Employees in India
A professional in Bengaluru who was planning a wedding said he felt more relaxed than anxious after learning he had been laid off by Qualcomm. “I am feeling more relaxed after hearing the news than I was before. At least the uncertainty is over, and I don’t have to keep worrying about whether I will be impacted or not,” he said. Another employee expected a promotion before receiving layoff news on a video call. A Hyderabad employee described feeling “more relieved than disappointed” after a meeting with HR.
Reddit posts from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai describe personal experiences and concerns. In a Hyderabad post, HR explained a severance package tied to years of experience. The calculation used 5.5 years of experience, adding three months of pay, and an additional month if the separation agreement was signed within two days, resulting in a package of 10 months of regular salary. The employee’s last working day was January 31, 2027, with regular pay through January and severance by late February or early March. Health insurance and other benefits would continue through January 31, and shares due to vest in November would vest while unvested shares would lapse. The employee was required to return their laptop in December and would receive resources for CV writing and job searching.
A Bengaluru poster said earlier interview rejections had already shaken his confidence and asked whether signing early could affect his chances of returning to Qualcomm. Another Bengaluru employee said his manager had told him a promotion was pending, but he learned of the layoff after losing two family members the previous month. He wrote, “Trauma is more emotional than financial.” A user whose pregnant wife was warned she might be affected, and who had worked at Qualcomm in Bengaluru for more than nine years, asked about legal protections and which records to keep.
A Chennai poster said he had heard of cuts across several engineering levels, believed junior engineers were affected more often, and questioned how managers chose people. He asked, “What do you gain by laying off those people in the lower pay grades?”
Qualcomm’s India layoffs are part of a global workforce reduction following annual employee reviews. In an October memo reviewed by Reuters, CEO Cristiano Amon called the cuts “performance‑focused.” Qualcomm said its decisions would reflect business priorities, organisational needs, and the skills required for future growth. Employee notifications were expected to start in November. Qualcomm has not disclosed how many jobs it plans to cut.
Frequently asked questions
What severance package did the Hyderabad employee receive?
The severance package was 10 months of regular salary, calculated using 5.5 years of experience, adding three months of pay, and an additional month if the separation agreement was signed within two days.
When was the Hyderabad employee's last working day?
The last working day was January 31, 2027.
What benefits continued after the layoff?
Health insurance and other benefits continued through January 31, and shares due to vest in November would vest while unvested shares would lapse.