Author: Maya Singh

India Inc. is projected to offer an average salary increment of 9.1% in 2026, with GCCs and financial services leading growth. Attrition stabilises at 16.4%.

The Gujarat Legislative Assembly has approved amendments to the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, introducing longer permissible work hours and allowing women to work night shifts under specified safety conditions. Extended Working Hours Under the amended provisions, the maximum daily working limit has been increased from nine hours to ten hours, inclusive of rest intervals. The law also raises the quarterly ceiling on overtime hours, offering employers greater flexibility in managing workforce schedules. The government has indicated that the change is intended to support operational demands in fast-expanding sectors such as retail, logistics and services, where extended business hours are…

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce a new mobile application starting April 2026, aimed at simplifying and accelerating provident fund (PF) transactions for subscribers. The upcoming app will enable members to withdraw PF funds directly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), allowing near-instant transfers to linked bank accounts. UPI Integration for Faster Withdrawals A key feature of the app is integration with BHIM–UPI, making the service accessible through India’s widely used digital payments infrastructure. This marks a significant shift from the existing withdrawal process, which often takes several days or weeks for claims to be processed…

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) is preparing to shift a significant portion of its workforce into revenue-generating roles as part of a broader technology-led transformation. The lender has indicated that the move will focus on retraining employees rather than reducing headcount, signalling a growth-oriented strategy without layoffs. Workforce Transition Plan Over the next two years, the bank expects 50–60 per cent of its employees to transition into sales-focused functions. The shift is being enabled by automation initiatives designed to reduce repetitive manual tasks and streamline internal processes. By freeing staff from operational workloads, the bank aims to increase customer-facing engagement and…

Sony Pictures Networks India has reduced its employee headcount by more than 100 as part of an ongoing restructuring exercise, reflecting mounting cost pressures within India’s broadcasting sector amid a subdued advertising market. Industry sources indicate that the workforce reduction spans multiple functions and teams and forms part of a broader plan to realign costs and streamline operations. While the current phase has impacted over 100 employees, the overall restructuring could eventually affect close to 10 per cent of the company’s total workforce. The job cuts are understood to be distributed across departments. However, the company’s digital streaming platform, SonyLIV,…

Spotify is preparing to cut approximately 17 per cent of its global workforce, a move expected to affect at least 1,500 employees. The decision represents one of the company’s largest rounds of job reductions and comes amid a broader wave of restructuring across the technology sector. In an internal communication to staff, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek described the restructuring as a necessary step to improve organisational efficiency and align the company more closely with its long-term strategic priorities. He stated that the changes are aimed at streamlining operations and adjusting the cost base to support sustainable growth. The workforce…

Infosys has announced an average performance bonus payout of 85 per cent for the quarter ending December (Q3 FY2025-26), marking one of its strongest bonus distributions in recent quarters. The company confirmed that the payout will be credited along with employees’ February salaries. According to company sources, eligible employees have received between 75 per cent and 100 per cent of their variable pay for the quarter. Several employees reported that the payout was approximately 15 per cent higher than what they received in the previous quarter, while some were awarded the full 100 per cent bonus. For many staff members,…

More than 1,000 employees at Google have signed an internal petition urging the company to reconsider its work with U.S. immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The petition raises concerns about how the company’s cloud and artificial intelligence technologies may be used in surveillance, enforcement actions, and other activities tied to immigration operations. According to the document, employees argue that certain applications of Google’s technology could contribute to harmful outcomes, including surveillance practices and enforcement measures that may affect migrant communities. The petition references reported deaths connected to immigration enforcement encounters…

Apple appears to be preparing for another phase of retail expansion in India, with Hyderabad emerging as the likely location for its next physical store. Recent job postings on the company’s careers portal list Hyderabad-based openings for roles such as Store Leader, Senior Manager, and Genius—positions typically associated with the launch of a full-scale Apple retail outlet. If confirmed, the store would become Apple’s seventh in the country, underscoring the company’s accelerating investment in the Indian market. Apple formally entered India’s direct retail landscape in 2023 with the inauguration of flagship outlets in Mumbai and New Delhi. Those openings marked…