Author: Asher J

FedEx has come under criticism for laying off a significant number of American workers while increasing the hiring of foreign professionals under the H-1B visa programme. Reports indicate that the global logistics company expanded international hiring after securing a major federal delivery contract in 2022 valued at billions of dollars. Between 2022 and 2025, FedEx reportedly hired close to 500 international employees on H-1B visas. The hiring peaked during 2024–25, with many roles based in Texas. Some technology positions are reported to have offered salaries ranging between $100,000 and $115,000 annually. The increase in hiring followed a large federal contract…

A Chinese automobile components manufacturer has attracted attention for introducing an unusual employee-retention strategy that links long-term service with home ownership. Zhejiang Guosheng Automobile Co., a Wenzhou-based company that manufactures automotive fasteners, has launched a programme under which loyal employees are rewarded with residential apartments. As part of the initiative, the company has purchased 18 apartments located close to its manufacturing facility. Employees who complete five years of service become eligible to receive a flat, making the scheme one of the more distinctive retention benefits in China’s manufacturing sector. The company employs around 450 people. The apartments were acquired about…

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola India, is set to reduce its workforce by around 300 employees, affecting at least four per cent of its approximately 5,000-strong staff base. The layoffs will span multiple departments, including supply chain, sales, distribution and operations. The move is part of an effort to simplify operations and improve margins across HCCB’s 15 manufacturing plants in India, which handle the bottling and distribution of brands such as Thums Up, Sprite and Coca-Cola. Over the past year, the company has scaled back its direct operations in states including Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of…

The Karnataka government’s Department of Personnel Administration and Reforms (DPAR) has issued a circular urging all government offices and organisations to maintain discipline, professionalism, and appropriate workplace conduct. The advisory specifically asks government employees to report to work in decent and professional attire, cautioning against overly casual dressing. The objective, according to the circular, is to uphold decorum and ensure high standards of professionalism across state government offices. The instructions apply to all heads of departments, senior officials, deputy commissioners, staff working in the Chief Minister’s Office, district panchayats, and other government entities. They have been directed to ensure that…

Gen Z is entering the workforce with strong clarity about long-term career goals, yet staying in jobs for far shorter periods than previous generations. According to Randstad’s Gen Z Workplace Blueprint report, average tenure for Gen Z in their first five years of work stands at just 1.1 years, compared to 1.8 years for millennials and nearly three years for Gen X and baby boomers at similar stages. The report, based on a survey of 11,250 workers and analysis of 126 million job postings worldwide, highlights a labour market undergoing rapid restructuring driven by artificial intelligence. While 85 per cent…

JPMorgan Chase is planning to build Asia’s largest global capability centre (GCC) in Mumbai, a move that could eventually support a workforce of up to 30,000 employees and significantly expand the bank’s presence in India. The proposed facility will be a single-user campus spanning around two million square feet in Powai. The development is expected to be executed in phases, with completion targeted by 2029. The planned GCC highlights India’s growing importance in JPMorgan Chase’s global talent and operations strategy. The centre is expected to house teams working across technology, operations, data, risk management, analytics, finance and other corporate functions…

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has clarified that weekends and holidays falling between an employee’s exit from one organisation and joining another will not be treated as a break in service for insurance claims. The clarification, issued through a recent EPFO circular, is aimed at ensuring fair access to benefits under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme. It provides clearer guidance on the definition of “continuous service” for calculating eligibility and payouts. The move follows instances where EDLI claims were rejected or benefits were reduced due to ambiguity around what constituted a break in service. In several cases,…

Unemployment in the United States climbed to its highest level in four years, according to the latest jobs report. The jobless rate increased from 4.4 per cent in September to 4.6 per cent in November, marking the highest level since September 2021, when it stood at 4.7 per cent. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a mixed employment picture. While approximately 105,000 jobs were lost in October, the economy added about 64,000 jobs in November. The net figures point to uneven job creation amid a growing workforce. Despite overall job gains in November, the public sector recorded significant…

Porsche has informed employees in Germany about plans to significantly reduce its workforce as part of a restructuring exercise. According to internal communications, the company is considering cutting up to 25 per cent of jobs, which could affect around 5,500 employees, making it the largest workforce reduction in the automaker’s history. The proposed measures follow a sharp decline in sales that has increased pressure on Porsche’s operations. The slowdown has prompted the company and its holding entity, Porsche SE, to review strategic options to stabilise performance and address cost challenges, reflecting the seriousness of the current business environment. If implemented,…

Pfizer is planning to reduce its workforce in Switzerland as part of a broader, multi-year cost-reduction programme, according to media reports. The move could result in more than 200 job cuts, with the company’s Swiss operations expected to shrink from around 300 employees to about 70 by the end of the year. The workforce reduction forms part of Pfizer’s efforts to achieve approximately $7 billion in cost savings over the next two years. The company has said the strategy focuses on streamlining operations, simplifying internal processes and reallocating resources toward higher-impact areas to improve efficiency and productivity. Pfizer aims to…