Author: HR Talk

In a bizarre workplace saga that feels more like a corporate satire than reality, an American employee was hired by a global real-estate firm—only to be forgotten immediately after joining. Despite having no assignments or supervision, he continued to receive a six-figure salary for nearly seven months. According to his now-viral account, the employee secured the job through a recruiter who was fired just before his start date. When he arrived at the office, no one was expecting him. A colleague casually directed him to an empty desk, and that was the last direct interaction he had about his role.…

OpenAI is reportedly exploring a secondary stock sale that could value the artificial intelligence leader at around $500 billion, creating a major opportunity for current and former employees to monetise their equity. Sources familiar with the matter say the proposed deal would allow staff—past and present—to sell a portion of their shares, turning years of work into substantial financial returns. The discussions are still in the early stages and subject to change, but the move signals strong investor confidence and an effort to reward those who contributed to the company’s rise. The talks come alongside OpenAI’s separate bid to raise…

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced that 80% of its employees will receive salary increments effective 1 September 2025, offering some relief to its workforce after months of uncertainty. According to reports, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Milind Lakkad and CHRO-designate K. Sudeep communicated the decision via an internal email. While the company has not disclosed the exact percentage of hikes, the effective date has been confirmed. The announcement comes just weeks after TCS froze hiring and paused annual salary increments globally, following the layoff of 12,000 employees — about 2% of its global headcount. The moves, along with the…

Starting August 2025, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made it mandatory for users to generate their Universal Account Numbers (UANs) through the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT). This secure, user-friendly process eliminates the need to contact employers for UAN creation. By verifying identity directly through Aadhaar’s face recognition system, the technology automatically retrieves user details from the Aadhaar database—ensuring accuracy and removing the need for manual data entry. The new system is compulsory for most EPFO members. Exceptions will apply only in special cases, such as for international workers or citizens of Bhutan and Nepal,…

Amazon is set to cut at least 100 jobs at Wondery, its podcast division, as part of a major restructuring aimed at streamlining operations. Around 110 employees have reportedly already been informed of the decision. According to Bloomberg, Steve Boom, Vice President of Audio, Twitch and Games, has outlined plans to merge Wondery’s podcast teams with those at Audible. The combined unit will form a new division called Creator Services, focusing on creator-led content. As part of the shake-up, Wondery CEO Jen Sargent will step down. The restructuring is intended to enhance experiences for customers, creators, and advertisers alike. Amazon…

Samsung is facing fresh scrutiny after reports surfaced of layoffs across its US operations, though the company has yet to confirm the development. The claims, made in a viral Reddit post by a former employee on 3 August, allege that multiple staff members— including long-serving team members—were abruptly let go. The post further claimed that some employees were left stranded during business trips when their company-issued cards were deactivated without warning. The scale and nature of the reported cuts remain unclear, as Samsung has not responded to requests for comment. The unconfirmed reports have fuelled speculation that the move may…

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has assured the Ministry of Labour that it will onboard over 600 lateral hires holding pending offer letters, even as it skipped a scheduled meeting with the ministry. The meeting, convened by the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC), was expected to address delays in onboarding, which have impacted professionals across TCS offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. In a written response to the CLC, TCS attributed the delays to global market uncertainties and deferred client projects. The IT major emphasised that the onboarding process had only been postponed, not cancelled. The development comes amid…

The State Bank of India (SBI) has begun onboarding 13,455 newly recruited junior associates across its vast branch network, marking a significant step in bolstering its frontline workforce. These fresh recruits are expected to infuse renewed energy, a strong customer-first approach, and operational efficiency across every touchpoint in the bank’s service ecosystem. The initiative underscores SBI’s continued focus on strengthening its human resource capabilities through structured skill-development programmes, aligned with evolving technological and functional demands. With a workforce already exceeding 2.36 lakh employees, SBI remains committed to building a more inclusive and future-ready organization. This onboarding follows SBI’s earlier announcement…

Swiggy has unveiled “Mom’entum 2.0”, a comprehensive, multi-year maternity support policy designed to accompany women through all stages of motherhood. Building on its 2020 gender-neutral parental care policy, the initiative reflects Swiggy’s continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. Unlike conventional maternity benefits, Mom’entum 2.0 offers holistic support—including pre-parenthood planning, structured return-to-work pathways, extended postnatal care, and career continuity measures. The goal is to help women navigate motherhood while maintaining their professional aspirations with confidence and support. Girish Menon, Chief Human Resources Officer at Swiggy, emphasized that motherhood is an ongoing journey, not a singular event. “Over the…

The buzz surrounding Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) announcement to lay off 2% of its global workforce continues to stir concern across the IT industry. Adding to the anxiety, the Indian IT giant has now implemented a hiring freeze and paused annual salary increments for employees worldwide. These decisions come at a time when the sector is grappling with subdued demand and a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). According to an Economic Times report, several employees on the bench—particularly in locations such as Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad—are being phased out. This follows TCS’s internal policy requiring benched employees to…