BENGALURU: US-based IT giant Oracle has begun a major round of layoffs that has now reached India, with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 employees reportedly affected as part of a wider global workforce reduction, though some reports say the number could be as high as 12,000.
The latest cuts are part of a broader plan that could affect around 30,000 employees worldwide. With another round of layoffs reportedly possible within the next month, uncertainty continues to grow among employees in India and across Oracle’s global operations.
"In India, around 12,000 employees have been laid off. The company is planning another mass layoff within a month," said two people impacted by the retrenchment, including one from the company's human resource department, told PTI.
The layoffs are a part of Oracle’s ongoing restructuring as it shifts resources towards artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure. The company has announced plans to invest around $50 billion in AI infrastructure and has also reportedly raised $50 billion in debt to support further expansion.
Employees across several teams reportedly received termination emails early in the morning, some as early as 6 AM, informing them that their roles had been eliminated with immediate effect.
One of the emails, as reviewed by The Business Insider, said, "We are sharing some difficult news regarding your position. After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organisational change. As a result, today is your last working day."
The message further instructed affected staff to provide a personal email address to receive separation documents and severance details. It also warned that access to company systems, including email and files, would be disabled shortly.
In India, affected employees have reportedly been offered 15 days’ salary for each completed year of service, along with one month’s unpaid wages up to the termination date, leave encashment, gratuity where applicable, notice period pay and an additional two-month salary top-up for those who resign voluntarily and amicably.
The scale of the layoffs has triggered widespread reaction online, particularly on X, Reddit and LinkedIn, where current and former employees have shared their experiences.
One Reddit post that drew significant attention alleged that a long-serving Oracle employee battling cancer was dismissed through email after 20 years with the company.
"My dad has worked for Oracle for 20 years, worked for the same boss for 20 years," the user wrote. "Not even a phone call."
The claim has not been independently verified, but it has intensified discussion around how major technology companies are handling job cuts during restructuring.
Several other users also reported receiving similar emails.
One commenter wrote, "I was with the company for 29 years and got laid off via email today."
Oracle has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest layoffs.
The latest cuts follow earlier job reductions last year, when around 3,000 roles were reportedly eliminated globally as the company sharpened its focus on AI investments.