Qualcomm Begins Layoffs in India, Global Workforce Expected to be Affected
Qualcomm has started laying off employees in its Bengaluru office, with further job cuts expected in other Indian cities and globally. The company stated these changes are "performance-focused," but some affected employees claim they received no prior feedback. These layoffs are anticipated to impact about 7% of Qualcomm's worldwide staff.
By The Junior Post
Published
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Qualcomm, a large technology company, has begun a process of reducing its workforce, starting with its Bengaluru office on November 9, 2026. These job cuts are expected to continue in other Indian cities, including Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Chennai, and are part of a global restructuring effort.
The company anticipates that approximately 7% of its global workforce will be affected. As of September 2025, Qualcomm had about 52,000 employees worldwide. In India, where Qualcomm has an estimated 20,000 employees, this could mean more than 1,000 job losses. Another round of job cuts is expected in January 2027.
Qualcomm's CEO, Cristiano Amon, announced in an internal memo in October 2026 that the company would undertake a "performance-focused reduction" after annual employee reviews. The company stated that factors influencing the layoffs include business needs and required skills, in addition to individual performance. However, some affected employees claim they did not receive any performance feedback before being notified of their layoff.
Reports suggest that the layoffs are mainly impacting senior engineers and employees with several years of experience, though some newer hires are also affected. The selection process reportedly considers individual performance ratings, team assessments, and opinions from senior management. Employees have reported potential reductions across various engineering teams, such as radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS).
Affected employees are reportedly being offered severance packages, which include three months' salary, with additional compensation based on how long they have worked for the company. Some reports also mention an incentive of an extra month's salary for those who sign their exit documents quickly, though Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed these details. These actions have led to concerns about whether the company's objective is solely performance-based or also includes cost-cutting measures, especially as Qualcomm is facing declining sales, particularly in mobile revenues.
Knowledge Vault
Workforce Reduction (Layoffs)
Workforce reduction, also known as layoffs, happens when a company decides to decrease the number of its employees. This can occur for various reasons, such as when a company needs to save money, when its sales are declining, or when it wants to reorganize its teams to focus on different goals. It's a business decision that affects many people's jobs.
Severance Package
A severance package is a set of benefits that an employer offers to an employee whose job is ending. This package often includes a payment of money, sometimes based on how long the person worked for the company, and might also include other benefits like health insurance for a certain period or help finding a new job. It's meant to help the employee during the transition period.
Global Workforce
A global workforce refers to all the employees a company has around the world, across different countries. Many large companies operate in multiple countries, meaning their employees are located in various places. Decisions made by the company can affect its employees in all these different locations.
Check your understanding
- What is one of the main reasons Qualcomm stated for the layoffs?
- To expand into new markets.
- To build a stronger performance culture.
- To hire more recent graduates.
- To increase employee benefits.
- Which of the following Indian cities is NOT mentioned as a location where Qualcomm layoffs are expected?
- Bengaluru
- Mumbai
- Hyderabad
- Chennai
- What is an allegation made by some affected Qualcomm employees regarding the layoffs?
- They were offered too much severance pay.
- They received no prior performance feedback.
- They were forced to work extra hours.
- They were given promotions instead of layoffs.