Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Survey Finds Global Tech Bosses Control Indian Hiring And Layoffs
A survey asked workers in India who decides when companies hire or cut jobs.
It found that Indian leaders usually have slightly more influence over hiring than layoffs.
Many important decisions are made by company leaders in other countries.
This can happen because workers report to both Indian managers and global managers.
The survey said this pattern was especially strong when there was no senior India-based leader.
Several large technology companies have recently reduced jobs in India.
These included Oracle, PayPal, Visa and Uber.
One anonymous Oracle employee said India was chosen partly because it was cheaper and easier for companies during cuts.
Blind surveyed 1,467 India-based professionals between August 21 and September 16 about hiring and layoff decisions.
Among respondents reporting to India-based VP-level leaders, 37% said local leadership approves new roles, compared with 33% for final layoff decisions.
Across all respondents, 46% said hiring approvals and 46% said layoff decisions rested with global functions, finance or headquarters outside India.
The survey linked the pattern to matrix reporting, in which Indian teams often report locally and to global leaders abroad.
The findings came after job cuts at Oracle, PayPal, Visa and Uber, with the survey saying decisions were made outside India.
- Who
- Blind surveyed India-based technology professionals and examined decision-making at global technology companies, including Oracle, PayPal, Visa and Uber.
- What
- The survey found that Indian leaders generally have less influence over layoffs than hiring, with many decisions made by global leaders or headquarters outside India.
- When
- The survey was conducted between August 21 and September 16; the article also describes job cuts made this year.
- Where
- The decisions and job cuts involved India, while many approvals were made by global functions or headquarters outside the country.
- Why
- The survey suggested that matrix reporting structures give Indian leaders local hiring responsibility while leaving major workforce reductions to global managers.
- Survey organization
- Blind, an anonymous professional networking app
- Survey sample
- 1,467 India-based professionals
- Survey period
- August 21 to September 16
- India leadership and hiring
- 37% of respondents with India-based VP-level reporting lines said India leadership approves new roles
- India leadership and layoffs
- 33% of the same group said India leadership makes the final call on headcount cuts
- Global decision-making
- Across all respondents, 46% said approvals for both new roles and layoffs rested with global functions, finance or headquarters outside India
- No India reporting line
- About 75% of respondents without an India reporting line said hiring and firing decisions were made outside India