‘Trauma is more emotional than financial’: Amid Qualcomm layoffs, employees share personal stories of anguish | Today’s news
The Bengaluru-based professional was planning a wedding when he said Qualcomm laid them off. But he says he’s more relieved than distressed.
“After hearing the news, I feel more relaxed than before. At least the uncertainty is gone and I no longer have to worry about whether it will hit me or not,” he said.
Another said he was expecting a promotion before receiving the message in a video call. A Hyderabad user described feeling “more relieved than disappointed” after meeting with HR.
Read also | Qualcomm and Amazon seal $4 billion AI chip deal
However, not everyone was “relieved” to lose their job. Posts on Reddit describe personal experiences and concerns in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. The posts are missing Qualcomm’s response and the total number of affected employees.
In a post tagged Hyderabad, one user said HR was waiting in the conference room. The employees there explained the severance pay tied to years of experience. The poster stated that completed years of experience plus one determined months of salary.
The package then added three months of pay. Signing a separation agreement within two days would add another month’s salary.
The poster used 5.5 years of experience to explain the calculation. With the signing bonus, the package would be 10 months of regular wages.
Read also | Qualcomm layoffs in India: more than 1,000 jobs at risk; what is in the output menu
The user stated that his last day of work would be January 31, 2027. He expected a regular paycheck by January and severance pay in late February or early March.
The post said health insurance and other benefits would continue until Jan. 31. The shares due to be transferred in November will be transferred, while the remaining unvested shares will be forfeited.
The user said he had to return their laptop in December. HR would also share resume writing resources and help find other jobs.
One poster from Bengaluru said that the earlier refusal to talk had already shaken their confidence. He asked if signing early could affect his chances of returning to Qualcomm. He also sought advice from other Redditors about referrals and interview preparation.
“Honestly, my confidence has taken a hit and I feel completely lost… I just wish life would give me some breathing space,” wrote a Reddit user.
Another user from Bengaluru said they were told by their manager that a promotion was pending. He described learning of the layoffs after losing two family members last month.
“The trauma is more emotional than financial,” he wrote.
Read also | US stock market tumbles: Chip stocks extend selloff, Nasdaq falls 6%
One user said his pregnant wife was warned she could be affected. She was six months pregnant at the time. She worked at Qualcomm in Bengaluru for more than nine years, the user said.
The post said the couple was waiting for official communication and asked about legal protection. The poster also asked what records the couple should keep.
A poster in Chennai said he had heard of cuts at several levels of engineering. The user believed that younger engineers were affected more often and asked how managers select people.
“What do you gain by laying off people in lower pay grades?” wondered the user.
Qualcomm: Layoffs in India
Qualcomm’s layoffs in India are part of global downsizing following an annual employee review. In an October report reviewed by Reuters, CEO Cristiano Amon called the cuts “performance-oriented.”
Qualcomm said its decisions will reflect business priorities, organizational needs and skills needed for future growth. The notification of employees was supposed to start in November. Qualcomm has not disclosed how many jobs it plans to cut.
