Author: Maya Singh

The Walt Disney Company is preparing another round of layoffs, with around 1,000 roles expected to be cut in the coming months. The reductions are set to primarily impact corporate and marketing functions, as the company moves to streamline operations and centralise promotional activities across film, television, and streaming. The company employs over 230,000 people globally, with a large portion working part-time across its theme parks. This marks the first major workforce reduction under CEO Josh D’Amaro, who assumed the role in March. The restructuring follows the appointment of Asad Ayaz as chief marketing and brand officer. The move is…

A new study by Vouchercloud suggests that the traditional 8-hour workday may not reflect actual productivity levels. According to the research, the average office worker is effectively productive for just 2 hours and 53 minutes per day. The survey, conducted among nearly 2,000 full-time office employees in the UK, highlights a significant gap between time spent at work and time spent on focused tasks. About 79% of respondents said they are not productive throughout the entire workday, with only a small proportion reporting consistent focus. The study points to everyday distractions as a key factor behind reduced productivity. Activities such…

SpiceJet has initiated workforce reductions as its financial challenges intensify, with over 500 employees expected to be impacted in the first phase. The airline, which once operated around 50 aircraft, is now running a significantly smaller fleet of about 13 owned planes along with 14 wet-leased aircraft that come with their own crew. Facing mounting liabilities and reduced operations, the company has turned to furloughs and leave without pay as cost-cutting measures. According to internal communication from the HR department dated 31 March, several employees will be placed on a six-month furlough from April to September 2026. While not classified…

Microsoft has unveiled a major investment plan worth $5.5 billion in Singapore, aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and strengthening workforce capabilities over the next five years. Spanning 2025 to 2029, the initiative will focus on expanding cloud and AI infrastructure while simultaneously building a future-ready talent pipeline. A key highlight is a large-scale skilling effort targeting students, educators, and nonprofit leaders to improve AI literacy across sectors. As part of the programme, more than 2,00,000 tertiary students in Singapore will receive complimentary access to Microsoft 365 Premium with Copilot for one year. This move is expected to equip…

Singapore is placing employment quality and wage progression at the center of its technological evolution. Under the newly launched National AI Impact Programme (NAIIP), the government aims to train 10,000 “AI-bilingual” workers—professionals who are equally proficient in their specialized fields and in applying artificial intelligence to their daily workflows. Measuring Success Beyond Productivity Speaking on March 27, 2026, Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, emphasized that the initiative’s success will not be measured by traditional benchmarks alone. Instead, the government will track: Sector-Specific Integration The NAIIP will initially focus on industries where AI integration is most immediate: Accountancy…

In a striking move for the electric vehicle (EV) sector, Chinese automaker BYD reduced its workforce by approximately 100,000 employees in 2025—a 10% reduction that brings its total headcount to around 870,000. While such a scale of layoffs usually suggests a crisis, the company clarifies that this is a strategic restructuring aimed at “right-sizing” operations and boosting efficiency through automation as it faces a “knockout stage” of market competition. Record Revenue vs. Margin Pressure BYD’s 2025 performance was a paradox of massive growth and tightening profits. The company reached a historic 8,039.6 billion yuan in revenue and delivered a record…

Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly overhauling its Reality Labs division, a move that signals a fundamental shift toward artificial intelligence-led operations. The restructuring affects approximately 1,000 employees and introduces a new organizational model designed to integrate AI into the company’s core internal workflows. Shift to “AI-Native” Roles and Pods As part of the reorganization, Meta is replacing traditional job titles with new, AI-centric designations. Employees within the affected group will now transition into three primary roles: AI Builder: The foundational role for individual contributors. AI Pod Lead: Leaders responsible for the daily execution of smaller units. AI Org Lead: Managers…

Salesforce has decided not to offer salary increases this year to employees at the director level and above, instead prioritising merit-based pay raises for senior managers and below. Details of compensation changes are expected to be shared during performance reviews beginning at the end of March. For senior-level employees, the company is placing greater emphasis on stock-based compensation and performance bonuses. Salesforce has expanded its stock grant programme, with 10% more directors and senior directors receiving equity grants compared to last year. The average grant size has also increased, with top performers rated “highly successful” or “exceptional” receiving grants that…

Nokia is preparing to reduce its global workforce as part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at improving efficiency and addressing ongoing industry challenges. The company is expected to cut up to 14,000 roles worldwide, representing nearly 20% of its total workforce of more than 74,000 employees. India, where Nokia employs over 17,000 people, is likely to be affected by these changes. The planned restructuring comes amid a wider trend of cost-cutting measures across the global technology and telecom sectors. The decision follows a decline in Nokia’s business performance in India. The company reported a 15% year-on-year drop in net…

Ford Motor Company is facing fresh legal scrutiny after a former employee accused its internal HR systems of failing to address harassment complaints and instead contributing to her exit from the company. Ayanna A. Lynn, a quality engineer at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant, filed the claim. She claims in her complaint that several levels of leadership ignored repeated reports of a top manager’s inappropriate actions. The complaint claims that she escalated the issue further inside the company since her original concerns were not taken seriously. Over time, the problem reportedly got worse. According to the lawsuit, she was treated…