Author: Asher J

As workplaces across the world confront the evolving dynamics of long hours, remote work, and increasing performance pressure, experts are warning about the dangers of extreme overwork—an issue long recognized in Japan under the term “Karōshi,” meaning death from overwork. Though the term originated in the 1970s, Karōshi has re-emerged as a global conversation starter, highlighting the urgent need for healthier work–life balance policies, especially in high-pressure sectors such as technology, finance, manufacturing, and the gig economy. What is Karōshi? Karōshi refers to sudden death—often from heart attack, stroke, or severe mental stress—triggered by excessive working hours. In Japan, several…

Epson has introduced a new programme aimed at enhancing robotics education for engineering students in India by providing practical, industry-oriented training alongside classroom learning. The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic curricula and the skill requirements of modern manufacturing. Siva Kumar, senior general manager, sales and marketing, Epson India, said the company aims to equip upcoming engineers with the tools and exposure needed to succeed in an evolving industrial landscape. He noted that partnerships with academic institutions and the internship initiative are intended to help students gain confidence through hands-on experience. Epson expects more than 100 students…

Zepto has temporarily paused operations at about 200 of its 600 Zepto Cafe outlets as part of an internal restructuring effort aimed at addressing low or inconsistent demand in certain locations. The move is part of a broader optimisation strategy as the company focuses on strengthening its high-demand quick-commerce business ahead of its planned IPO. Employees from the affected outlets — typically two to three per cafe — are being redeployed to Zepto’s dark stores to support picker and packer functions. The company aims to utilise its workforce more efficiently in areas experiencing higher order volumes. According to sources, the…

American Airlines is reportedly preparing to cut about 5,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring and cost-optimisation plan, following what executives have acknowledged as overhiring during the post-pandemic travel boom. Although the airline has not issued an official confirmation, media reports suggest that the job cuts will affect multiple departments — including management, technical, and customer-support teams — and may involve shifting certain roles to India, with Hyderabad expected to become a new centre of operations. The planned reduction represents an estimated four to five per cent of the airline’s global workforce. The administrative and information technology divisions are…

Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has announced an ambitious expansion plan for India, aiming to double its hotel portfolio and triple its workforce over the next five years. The Belgium-headquartered hospitality group plans to expand its presence from over 200 hotels currently to 250–260 by 2026, with a goal of reaching 500 hotels across India by 2030. India continues to be one of Radisson’s most promising markets, prompting the company to also increase its workforce from the current 17,000 employees to nearly 50,000 by 2030. The move reflects RHG’s long-term commitment to India’s fast-growing hospitality and tourism sector. At present, Radisson…

International Business Machines (IBM) is set to implement significant job cuts this quarter as part of a major workforce realignment aimed at strengthening its position in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The layoffs are expected to affect a low single-digit percentage of IBM’s global workforce, which stood at approximately 270,000 employees at the end of 2024. While the company has not confirmed the exact number of roles being eliminated, the move is expected to impact several thousand employees worldwide. In a statement, IBM said the decision aligns with its ongoing strategy to maintain the right mix of talent…

A recent Right to Information (RTI) response from Bank of Baroda (BoB) has provided a detailed look into employee resignations over the last three financial years. The data, covering FY 2023–24, FY 2024–25, and FY 2025–26 (till date), outlines year-wise and scale-wise resignation figures for clerical staff and officers from Scale I to Scale V, excluding voluntary retirements. According to BoB’s official response, exit interviews are conducted for all employees who resign, following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introduced in March 2020. The process aims to record reasons for exits and collect feedback to enhance workplace policies and employee engagement.…

Indian two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto, which has been gradually strengthening its control over KTM, confirmed that the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer will undergo a sweeping cost-reduction programme that will reduce overheads by more than 50 % in multiple non‐production areas. In an interview, Bajaj’s Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said the company sees “low-hanging fruit” in streamlining what he described as an excessive white-collar workforce, remarking that of the approximately 4,000 current KTM employees only about 1,000 are factory (blue-collar) workers and the remaining 3,000 are office‐based roles — a ratio he says is unsustainable.  Restructuring scopeThe cuts are expected to span…

Seattle-based Amazon announced that it will eliminate approximately 14,000 corporate roles worldwide, as the company embarks on a major restructuring to streamline its operations and reduce management layers. In a memo shared with employees, Senior Vice President of People Experience & Technology Beth Galetti wrote that while some hiring will continue in strategic areas, the changes reflect a push to become “leaner, flatter, faster” by investing resources in its highest-priority bets. Despite past reports suggesting cuts might reach as many as 30,000 corporate roles, Amazon’s public statement affirmed the figure of around 14,000. What Amazon says is driving the changeAccording…

SBI targets 30% women in workforce in 5 years