The Brutal Reality of Modern Layoffs

“Corporate Greed is the New Pandemic” – When Bottom Lines Matter More Than People

In today’s fast-paced corporate landscape, where productivity is king and efficiency is worshipped, a quiet crisis is unfolding. One that doesn’t make front-page headlines often but lives in the broken voices of thousands of professionals who are being silenced, side-lined, and discarded in the name of "performance optimization." This isn’t just about layoffs. It’s about a growing culture of disposability, where human beings are treated as metrics - easily replaced, ruthlessly managed, and emotionally disregarded.

The Brutal Reality of Modern Layoffs: Stories Hidden Between the Headlines

In just six months, several high-profile companies across sectors have made headlines—not for innovation, but for mass terminations that have left hundreds jobless and hopeless.

• Zomato laid off employees who had worked extensive hours without warning. Their dedication? Unrewarded.
• Infosys, a pillar of India’s tech legacy, dismissed 700 freshers post-training—without severance, without accountability.
• TaskUs, known for its “employee-first” culture, axed 300 employees in silence. The irony? Deafening.

This isn’t corporate strategy. It’s corporate callousness.

When Inspiration Turns into Exploitation

The situation escalated when Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy called on India’s youth to work 70 hours a week. “This is how India will grow,” he said. But at what cost? Let’s decode that. For many, it means doing two people’s work at one salary—while enduring longer hours, fewer benefits, and non-existent work-life balance. This isn’t aspiration. It’s exploitation masked as ambition.

Toxicity is Now a Job Description

Another dark side of corporate life: “Quiet Firing.” A sinister way of forcing employees out without actually terminating them.

• Stripped of roles.
• Isolated from teams.
• Relegated to meaningless tasks.

These tactics are not only emotionally draining—they’re professionally destructive. A techie in Bengaluru recently called out a toxic, micromanaged culture. He was terminated in just four months. But his courage revealed the rot within.

The Numbers They Don’t Want You to See

Urban Unemployment (Dec 2024): 8.5%
Average Tenure Before Layoff in Startups: 11 months
Mental Health Impact due to Job Insecurity: 78% YoY increase
Behind every stat is a story—a story of sleepless nights, shattered confidence, and unfulfilled dreams.

W hat Needs to Change – Now

• Layoffs must require external audits and just cause certifications
• Mental health support, workload limits, and anonymous grievance redressal should be non-negotiable
• Employees should have safe, digital spaces to unionize and speak out
• Corporates must face consequences for violating ethical hiring and firing norms

It’s Not Just a Job. It’s Someone’s Life.

The truth is, we’re not just witnessing a corporate crisis—we’re witnessing a human one. And silence is no longer an option. Let’s not wait for things to change. Let’s be the reason they do.