Author: HR Talk

Amazon is aligning employee benefits across its grocery divisions, extending all corporate perks enjoyed by Amazon.com staff to Whole Foods corporate employees. The move aims to integrate its grocery businesses and ensure a consistent employee experience across teams. Acquired by Amazon in 2017, Whole Foods corporate staff will now receive a 10% discount code on Amazon merchandise and gain access to Amazon’s online portal offering deals on car insurance, phone plans, travel, and entertainment, similar to US-based Amazon employees. Over the next month, Whole Foods corporate employees will be able to review their updated salaries, benefits, and job titles. Amazon…

E-commerce giant Myntra is set to generate over 11,000 jobs through its partner network ahead of its flagship Big Fashion Festival (BFF), aiming to strengthen operations ahead of a surge in festive shopping demand. The new roles cover logistics, customer service, and last-mile delivery, with warehouses in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi receiving additional manpower for sorting, packing, and grading. Around 30% of the temporary workforce will be women, highlighting Myntra’s focus on inclusivity. The bulk of the hiring includes nearly 7,000 delivery partners and 1,400 customer-support executives, ensuring smooth doorstep service and faster query resolution during peak demand. Myntra’s…

A Reddit post by an employee fined by his boss for leaving the office AC on has gone viral, drawing widespread attention and sparking debate about workplace fairness. The employee, who often stays late to finish work, normally turns off the lights and AC before leaving. One night, he forgot to switch off the AC, prompting his boss to scold him in a group message and impose a Rs 500 salary deduction as a penalty. In his post, the employee expressed feeling belittled in front of colleagues. He emphasized that he had owned up to the mistake honestly, even though…

As India gears up for its largest shopping extravaganza, The Big Billion Days (TBBD), Flipkart has unveiled its strategy to handle the festive rush. The e-commerce giant is focusing on an expanded workforce, robust supply chain, and technology-driven operations to meet heightened demand. This year, Flipkart has created over 2.2 lakh seasonal positions across supply chain, logistics, and delivery roles, including pickers, packers, sorters, and last-mile executives. Notably, around 15% of these recruits are entering the workforce for the first time, underlining the company’s push for broader employment opportunities. Inclusivity has been a key focus. Hiring of women has increased…

Facing acute labour shortages across key industries, Russia is increasingly turning to Indian workers to fill critical roles. In an interview with Russian news agency TASS, Vinay Kumar, India’s envoy to Russia, highlighted rising demand for Indian manpower not only in construction and textiles but also in sectors such as machinery and electronics. The surge in Indian employment has put additional pressure on Indian consular services in Russia. As more citizens arrive for work, consular offices are handling a growing volume of routine documentation, including passport renewals and family-related services. Russia plans to bring in up to one million foreign…

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has increased the ex-gratia payment for nominees or legal heirs of employees who die in service from Rs 8.8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh under its Death Relief Fund. Starting April 2026, the ex-gratia amount will see a 5% annual increase, linking the benefit to inflation for the first time. This move aims to ensure that monetary assistance for dependents or heirs keeps pace with rising living costs. The payout will come from the Staff Welfare Fund, providing greater financial security to families of employees under the Central Board. EPFO has also introduced procedural…

Lenovo is ramping up its presence in India, positioning the country as both a high-growth market and a global hub for artificial intelligence. The company plans to expand its AI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, which currently employs 400 professionals, by adding another 1,000 highly skilled experts. The Bengaluru centre will focus on consulting, security, and enterprise services, while supporting businesses in designing end-to-end digital transformation frameworks. The move comes after a strong performance in FY25, when Lenovo’s India business recorded 67% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching USD 3.4 billion. Enterprise solutions under Lenovo’s ISG division have been key drivers, fueled…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world of Human Resources. From screening resumes and scheduling interviews to handling payroll and answering employee queries through chatbots, AI has made HR operations faster, smarter, and more data-driven. But the big question remains: Can—or should—HR be fully replaced by AI? What AI Does Well in HR AI excels at repetitive, rule-based tasks. It can: These functions not only reduce workload for HR teams but also minimise human bias in some decision-making processes. Where AI Falls Short However, HR is not just about processes—it’s about people. AI struggles in areas that require empathy,…

Cisco has announced another round of layoffs in California’s Bay Area, affecting 221 employees across its Milpitas and San Francisco offices. The disclosure was made through regulatory filings with the state’s Employment Development Department. The job cuts come just days after the tech giant reported strong financial results. Cisco posted $14.7 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter, up 8% year-on-year, while full-year revenue for fiscal 2025 reached $56.7 billion, reflecting a 5% increase. The layoffs highlight the complex balancing act in the tech industry, where companies are pairing healthy profits with restructuring moves. Cisco continues to ramp up investments…

For two consecutive days, Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters in Washington became the site of employee protests against the company’s alleged involvement in the Gaza conflict. Demonstrators opposed the use of Microsoft’s technology by the Israeli military and demanded an immediate end to business ties with Israel. On the first day, around 35 protestors dispersed after being asked to leave the campus. However, on the second day, demonstrators refused to comply and reportedly turned aggressive when security attempted to disperse them. Tensions escalated when some protestors splashed red paint on a Microsoft logo sign to symbolise what they described as the bloodshed…