Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Indian Staff Laid Off During Brief Mandatory Video Call
About 80 workers in India were suddenly told they had lost their jobs.
The workers were customer-service employees for a US-based company.
They were asked to join a short video meeting.
During the meeting, the company’s COO said most of the Indian workforce was being dismissed.
The COO said the decision was because of restructuring, not poor performance.
The workers could not ask questions during the call.
They were told a follow-up email would explain their status.
They were also promised their final pay and payment for unused leave.
Around 80 Indian customer-service employees of a US-based firm were told they had been dismissed during a mandatory video call.
The call was reportedly scheduled at about 9:30 p.m. during an employee’s 6:30 p.m. shift.
The company’s COO attributed the layoffs to internal restructuring rather than employee performance.
Employees said the call lasted about five minutes, with cameras and microphones disabled and no questions answered.
Workers were told they would receive final-month pay and payment for unused leave.
- Who
- Around 80 Indian customer-service employees and the US-based company’s COO.
- What
- The employees were informed that most of the Indian workforce was being laid off.
- When
- The meeting was reportedly held at about 9:30 p.m. during a 6:30 p.m. shift; no date was provided.
- Where
- In India, through a mandatory Google Meet call.
- Why
- The COO attributed the dismissals to internal restructuring rather than employee performance.
Company rationale
Workers' concerns
Reason for layoffs
Company rationale
The COO said the dismissals resulted from internal restructuring rather than employee performance.
Workers' concerns
Affected workers described the decision as sudden and said they received little explanation.
Communication method
Company rationale
The company used a mandatory video call followed by a promised confirmation email.
Workers' concerns
Employees criticized the brief call because cameras and microphones were disabled and questions were not answered.
Financial support
Company rationale
Workers were told they would receive their final month's pay and payment for unused leave.
Workers' concerns
Employees viewed those payments as inadequate comfort after an unexpected dismissal affecting about 80 families.
- Employees affected
- Around 80 Indian workers
- Industry role
- Customer service
- Meeting platform
- Google Meet
- Meeting time
- Approximately 9:30 p.m.
- Meeting length
- About five minutes
- Stated reason
- Internal restructuring, not performance
- Post-layoff payments
- Final month's pay and unused-leave encashment