Qualcomm begins global layoffs; up to 1,000 jobs may be cut in India

Chipmaker Qualcomm has reportedly begun a major round of global layoffs, with job cuts also expected to affect its operations in India. As many as 1,000 employees in the country could face layoffs as part of the company’s broader restructuring exercise, according to media reports. 

While Qualcomm has not made a public announcement detailing the latest job cuts following a memo from CEO Cristiano Amon last month, reports suggest the company could reduce its global workforce by around 7%. 

Around 3,600 jobs may be affected globally 

Qualcomm reportedly employs around 52,000 people globally, which means a 7% reduction could affect approximately 3,600 employees. 

In India, the company has a significant presence, with an estimated workforce of around 20,000 employees across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Chennai. Reports indicate that up to 1,000 jobs could be impacted in the country, although Qualcomm has not officially confirmed the number of employees affected. 

Severance packages reportedly linked to tenure 

Affected employees have reportedly been offered severance equivalent to around three months’ salary, along with additional compensation linked to their tenure at the company, according to people aware of the matter. 

Employees who complete and sign their exit documents within a specified timeframe have also reportedly been offered an additional month’s salary as an incentive for early acceptance of the separation terms. Qualcomm, however, has not publicly confirmed the details of the severance packages or released a detailed policy for the current round of job cuts. 

Employee accounts suggest different payout structure 

Accounts shared by employees on Reddit suggest that the final compensation package could comprise several components and vary depending on an employee’s tenure and salary. 

According to these accounts, the basic severance payment could amount to two weeks of an employee’s gross salary, along with an additional two weeks of salary for every completed year of service. 

Employees who have not completed a full year at the company may also be eligible for a proportionate payout based on the duration of their employment, according to the posts. 

There is also reportedly an additional incentive for employees who complete their exit formalities within a short window. Some accounts suggest that workers who sign their severance agreements before the specified deadline could receive an extra month’s salary, with the acceptance period reportedly ranging between two and three days. 

Final payout could vary  

If the reported terms are accurate, the overall severance payout could vary substantially depending on an employee’s salary, tenure and the specific terms of their separation agreement. Employees with several years of service could receive significantly higher compensation than those with shorter tenures. 

However, with Qualcomm yet to publicly confirm either the scale of the layoffs or the severance arrangements, the exact number of employees affected and the final compensation structure remain unclear.