Author: HR Talk

Swedish automaker Volvo has announced plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 7%, affecting around 3,000 employees. The move is part of a broader cost-cutting strategy aimed at improving cash flow and enhancing the company’s resilience amid ongoing challenges in the global automotive sector. Of the 3,000 roles being cut, about 1,000 are Sweden-based consultants. With over half of Volvo’s 43,800 employees located in Sweden, the job cuts will impact roughly 1,200 positions within the country. While an exact breakdown for other regions has not been disclosed, the company has begun consultations with labour unions and issued a formal…

What began as a quiet weekend trip to Coorg took an unexpected turn for an employee whose fabricated sick leave was exposed through a viral Instagram reel. Claiming to be unwell with a stomach flu, the employee had taken time off, only to be inadvertently caught in the background of a widely shared video shot at a popular homestay. Although the reel focused on someone dancing, the employee was clearly visible—an unfortunate coincidence that didn’t escape the attention of their manager. The manager responded with a pointedly sarcastic message inquiring about the employee’s “recovery.” While the employee has not faced…

Flipkart is gearing up for a major growth phase in 2025, with plans to hire 5,000 new employees. The recruitment drive will primarily focus on bolstering two high-growth verticals—quick commerce and fintech—while significantly scaling up investments in artificial intelligence (AI) to fuel future innovation. A large portion of the new hires will support Flipkart Minutes, the company’s hyperlocal delivery arm, and Super.money, its digital financial services platform. The move signals Flipkart’s intent to compete more aggressively with quick commerce rivals like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, while also deepening its footprint in fintech services such as payments and credit. At…

In a sweeping restructuring move, Business Insider is laying off approximately 21% of its workforce as the company grapples with declining web traffic and changing news consumption patterns, largely driven by the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Headquartered in New York, the digital media outlet is adjusting its business model to navigate a drop in search engine visibility—an essential driver of traffic. While the company has successfully doubled its revenue per visit over the past two years, its reliance on high-volume traffic has created vulnerability in the face of shifting algorithms and user behavior. The layoffs are aimed…

LinkedIn has laid off approximately 280 employees across various California locations, including Mountain View, San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Carpinteria, and remote roles. The largest impact was in Mountain View, where 159 employees were affected, followed by 60 in San Francisco, 23 in Sunnyvale, 11 in Carpinteria, and 28 remote workers. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, the layoffs impacted a wide range of roles, including software engineers, machine-learning specialists, DevOps professionals, systems infrastructure staff, product managers, designers, and deal-desk strategists. This move aligns with broader workforce reductions at Microsoft, LinkedIn’s parent company, which is reportedly cutting around…

A Hyderabad-based robotics company is winning hearts and headlines by introducing an unconventional team member—a golden retriever named Denver—who has been named the company’s Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). Denver now roams the office corridors, spreading joy and serving as a natural stress reliever for employees. Harvesting Robotics, a startup specialising in laser-weeding technology for sustainable agriculture, has embraced workplace wellness through this unique initiative. By welcoming Denver into the office, the company not only lifts employee morale but also signals a strong commitment to fostering a relaxed and engaging work environment. Denver’s role is part of a broader effort to…

Accenture has announced plans to promote 50,000 employees globally by the end of June 2025, with 15,000 promotions slated for India alone. The remaining promotions will be distributed across the EMEA region and the Americas, as the company moves to reinvigorate morale following a delay linked to a slowdown in consulting demand. Originally scheduled for December, the promotions were postponed due to weaker client spending and increased scrutiny on U.S. government contracts. With market conditions showing signs of stabilisation, Accenture is now proceeding with its promotion cycle, and has communicated the news internally. The move will impact roughly 6% of…

IBM’s ambitious move to automate its HR functions using artificial intelligence has taken an unexpected course. In 2023, the tech giant laid off nearly 8,000 employees, largely from its HR teams, as part of a strategy to reduce costs and boost efficiency via its AI-powered AskHR platform. Initially, the automation push delivered results—AskHR successfully handled 94% of standard HR tasks, including payroll queries, leave approvals, and document processing. However, the remaining 6% of tasks, which required human judgment, empathy, and contextual decision-making, exposed critical gaps in service delivery. These gaps impacted both productivity and employee experience, leading IBM to quietly…

Walmart is set to lay off approximately 1,500 corporate employees across the United States as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and reduce costs. The job cuts will primarily affect positions at the retail giant’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, along with other U.S.-based offices. A substantial portion of the affected roles reportedly belong to Walmart’s global technology division. The move aligns with the company’s strategy to simplify its organizational structure and accelerate decision-making processes. However, the layoffs have sparked renewed debate around the H1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to employ skilled foreign professionals—especially in the technology…

India’s formal employment sector showed signs of recovery in March 2025, ending a three-month slump in fresh hiring. As per data released by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the number of new monthly subscribers under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) rose to 7.54 lakh, reflecting a modest 2 per cent increase from February’s 7.39 lakh. EPFO’s monthly data is considered a vital barometer of the country’s formal labour market health, offering insight into employment tied to social-security benefits and legal protections. Compared to March 2024, which saw 7,47,146 new subscribers, the current figures signal a marginal year-on-year improvement. A…