A Reddit post by a software engineer has reignited discussions around layoff practices after the employee claimed that nearly 150 engineers in the company's India team lost their jobs during an unexpected late-night Microsoft Teams meeting.
According to the post, employees received a Microsoft Teams invite at around 9 pm without prior indication of what was to follow. During the meeting, the company allegedly informed the entire India engineering team that its operations in the country were being shut down, resulting in immediate layoffs.
The former employee said they had joined the company as a software engineering intern before being converted into a full-time software engineer, spending nearly two years with the organisation. During that period, they worked as a full-stack developer on production applications using technologies including React, Node.js, Express, JavaScript, TypeScript, REST APIs and databases.
The engineer claimed the layoffs came without advance notice or a severance package.
Also read: 'I stay back to finish work, but it's never enough': IT employee's Reddit post resonates online
"What made the situation even harder was that there was no severance or layoff package. One meeting, and it was over," the employee wrote, adding that despite the abrupt exit, they remained grateful for the opportunity to work with their teammates and for the experience gained during their tenure.
Seeking advice from other professionals, the employee asked how others had navigated layoffs, prepared for interviews and stayed motivated while searching for new roles. They also said they were immediately available for employment.
In the comments section, the employee claimed the company had completely shut down its India operations, allowing affected workers to leave immediately without serving a notice period.
The post sparked widespread discussion online, with several users questioning the absence of severance benefits.
One user argued that companies should provide financial support when carrying out layoffs, particularly when employees face immediate financial obligations. Another pointed out that while severance may be discretionary, payment in lieu of the notice period is generally mandatory under employment agreements, depending on applicable laws and contract terms.
Some users also questioned how the employee was available to join another company immediately, to which the original poster replied that the India operations had been shut down with immediate effect.
In a separate social media post referenced by the employee, another individual alleged that the company's India LinkedIn page and posts related to its engineering team were removed shortly after the layoffs. The company's India LinkedIn page appeared inactive at the time the original report was published.
The claims circulating on social media have not been independently verified. The company has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Rajat Abbi, Vice President – Marketing, Schneider Electric India
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