Author: HR Talk

Tata Steel has set an ambitious goal to achieve a 20% diverse workforce across all group operations by 2028, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to workplace inclusion through its MOSAIC initiative. Launched in 2015, MOSAIC is Tata Steel’s flagship diversity and inclusion (D&I) programme, focused on fostering equity and belonging for employees of all backgrounds—regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, or social identity. The initiative is built on five key pillars: recruitment, sensitisation, retention & development, infrastructure, and celebration. These pillars guide the company’s efforts to promote inclusion for women, persons with disabilities (PwDs), LGBTQIA+ individuals, and affirmative action groups. To…

Apple’s ambitious plans to expand manufacturing in India have encountered a critical talent shortage. Over 300 Chinese professionals, who were instrumental in running iPhone assembly plants operated by suppliers like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, have been recalled to China. Their departure leaves a significant skills gap at a crucial moment in Apple’s efforts to ramp up production in India. These weren’t just administrative personnel—they were key operational leaders responsible for supervising production, training local teams, and maintaining Apple’s stringent manufacturing standards. Their exit disrupts the crucial transfer of technical know-how that Apple depends on to ensure consistency and quality across…

Apple has filed a lawsuit against a former senior engineer, accusing him of stealing confidential data related to its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset before joining Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat. The lawsuit, filed on June 24, 2025, in California, alleges that Di Liu—who spent nearly seven years at Apple—downloaded thousands of sensitive documents during his notice period in 2024. Liu played a key role as a system product design engineer on the Vision Pro project, Apple’s flagship entry into spatial computing. According to the complaint, he transferred proprietary files to his personal cloud account while still using his Apple-issued…

OpenAI is facing a fresh wave of high-profile resignations as Meta intensifies its push to lead the race for artificial superintelligence. In recent weeks, at least eight senior AI researchers have reportedly left OpenAI to join Meta’s newly-formed superintelligence team. Notable among the departures are Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, along with several other experts in advanced AI systems. These exits have prompted OpenAI’s leadership to step in with urgent measures to stabilise the situation. Senior executives are actively working to reassure remaining staff through emotionally charged internal communications, emphasizing values like loyalty, fairness, and shared long-term purpose.…

Microsoft is laying off around 9,000 employees—roughly 4% of its global workforce of 228,000—in a new round of job cuts. This move follows recent reports of planned layoffs in the Xbox division, though the company had not previously disclosed the full scale of the reductions. Media reports indicate this could be Microsoft’s largest layoff round in the past 18 months. What’s notable is that these cuts come despite the company reporting strong profits. Microsoft has described the layoffs as part of necessary “organizational changes” aimed at maintaining competitiveness in a “dynamic marketplace.” The job cuts will impact multiple departments and…

Semiconductor leader AMD is accelerating its hiring and infrastructure development in India, further strengthening the country’s role as a key global hub. Over the past three years, AMD has doubled its India headcount and now plans to surpass 10,000 employees in the coming years. India has become central to AMD’s global research and development operations, supported by a strong local talent pool and the company’s two-decade-long presence in the region. With engineering centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other tech hubs, AMD has built a robust leadership pipeline and deep technical expertise. In 2023, AMD announced a $400 million investment in…

While artificial intelligence (AI) has found widespread adoption in the workplace, a majority of employees feel it isn’t delivering on its much-hyped promise. According to the ‘Pulse of Work in 2025: Trends, Truths and the Practicality of AI’ report by GoTo and Workplace Intelligence, 78% of employees are using AI tools—ranging from free platforms like ChatGPT to enterprise solutions. Yet, many believe the return on investment is overstated. A striking 62% of employees say AI has been overhyped, while 57% believe its value and ROI are exaggerated. Moreover, 59% don’t believe AI will take over human jobs. The issue isn’t…

Global biopharmaceutical leader AstraZeneca has reinforced its footprint in India by expanding its global hub in Bangalore. The new facility, developed with an investment of ₹166 crore, will generate 400 new jobs and has the capacity to accommodate up to 1,300 employees. This expansion will bolster AstraZeneca’s capabilities in AI-driven research and development (R&D), global business services, information technology (IT), and digital health operations. It reflects the company’s growing commitment to leveraging India’s scientific and technological strengths to drive healthcare innovation. Just a year ago, AstraZeneca had also significantly expanded its Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai. Together,…

In a major push toward development and employment generation, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has greenlit 19 new projects worth ₹28,546 crore. These projects are expected to create 30,270 job opportunities across the state. Some of these initiatives will be based in Amaravati, where land acquisition is underway. Additionally, ₹2,733 crore has been earmarked for new infrastructure, including a 49-floor government tower. To further its employment agenda, the state has implemented the Andhra Pradesh Twenty Point Programme, targeting the creation of 20 lakh jobs for youth. In just one year, the government has successfully attracted investments worth ₹9.30 lakh crore. A…

The Walt Disney Company has initiated a new wave of layoffs, impacting hundreds of employees across its global operations. Departments including film and television marketing, casting, publicity, development, and corporate finance are among those affected in this latest phase of job cuts. These layoffs are part of Disney’s broader cost-saving and restructuring initiative led by CEO Bob Iger. The company aims to save $7.5 billion as it continues to reshape its business around core priorities—most notably, its streaming services. Since the beginning of this overhaul last year, Disney has let go of approximately 7,000 employees. Unlike previous mass layoffs, the…