TECH EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCES
The tech guys are fighting. Literally.
At ETHDenver, an annual cryptocurrency conference, crypto investor Andrew Batey stepped out of the boardroom and into the ring, fighting fellow entrepreneur Chauncey St. John in a live-streamed Influencer Fight Club match. Reflecting tech’s growing obsession with martial arts, the scrappy bout highlighted a cultural shift among wealthy tech elites chasing masculinity and spectacle.
Half of tech workers in India getting AI training at work: Naukri survey
The survey, which collected responses from over 16,000 professionals across industries, found that one in three tech workers is currently undergoing formal AI training through their organisations. Freshers appear to be beneficiaries of this trend as well, with over half reporting either basic or comprehensive AI training.
Techie asks HR for formal offer letter after congratulatory email, gets scolded instead. Netizens warn of major red flag
A first-time job switcher excitedly awaited his new role—until a polite request for confirmation triggered unexpected HR fury. When the official offer didn’t arrive, his caution sparked a storm, leaving netizens debating red flags, professionalism, and hiring ethics. This viral Reddit post has become a warning tale for young professionals navigating India’s tech job market.
Four iconic brands to watch in 2025
Several standout brands are making significant strides in 2025, demonstrating innovation and market influence. Apex Group, a financial solutions provider, excels with its global reach and diverse services. Natural Remedies Pvt Ltd focuses on research-driven botanical healthcare. Adhyyan Books, led by CA (Dr.) Nitin Soni, is recognized as a rapidly growing self-publishing house.
Are many techies earning Rs 1 crore or more in 4-5 years? IT professionals say YES but there is a catch
Indian tech professionals are debating salary expectations on Blind. A Walmart employee questioned high compensation for junior techies. Microsoft and Apple insiders have differing views on the trend. Some say ?1 crore packages are attainable. Others believe ?75 lakh is more realistic. JPMorgan Chase suggests figures are inflated. The debate highlights the evolving tech salary landscape in India.
MCA probes BluSmart; More made-in-India AirPods
Happy Tuesday! The corporate affairs ministry will probe Gensol Engineering and BluSmart to check corporate governance lapses. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
- Go To Page 1
Manager calls employee 'just a number' and mocks him as replaceable. Techie quits and costs company Rs 2.5 crore loss. How?
A viral post by a software professional has struck a chord online, highlighting a growing frustration among workers who feel undervalued despite going above and beyond. After being denied a raise despite handling double the workload and receiving praise from a top client, the employee was told by his manager that he was "just a number." He soon secured a new job with a 40% salary increase and better benefits, and after his departure, the client he managed followed him to his new company—causing a ?2.5 crore loss for his former employer.
TCS variable pay rollout; Eternal’s quick pivot
TCS has rolled out full quarterly variable pay to 70% of employees, while the rest received lower payouts based on business unit performance. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Punishment for missing targets: Employee shares video of being made to hold ears and run stairs
Piyush Kumar, a former Hike Education employee, alleges severe workplace abuse, including public humiliation and coercion to meet targets, leading to his resignation. Despite reporting the incidents, the company dismissed his claims, retaliated with false accusations, and allegedly deleted evidence.
More and more students find the fine balance between studying and making money at the same time
Students are increasingly balancing academics with freelance work and remote internships, driven by the desire for financial independence, practical experience, and career clarity. They are earning income while expanding professional networks and refining skills. The rise in remote opportunities, coupled with government initiatives, makes these experiences more accessible.
If I could invest in only one asset class for life it would be this: Sriram Iyer, HDFC Pension MD & CEO
Strong subscriber growth across corporate and retail segments shows how simplified messaging, tax incentives, and digital access are driving NPS adoption, but tailoring the pitch to different life stages is key to building long-term engagement, Sriram Iyer, MD & CEO, HDFC Pension, tells Yasmin Hussain.
‘Filthy white dust everywhere’: Techie struggles to adapt to life in India after returning from the US post layoff
A tech professional, returning to India after a decade in the US due to a layoff and revoked green card, has voiced his profound disappointment with the stark contrast in living conditions. He criticizes the poor infrastructure, pollution, chaotic traffic, and lack of civic sense in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Tesla looking for Elon Musk's replacement? World's richest man reacts
Tesla has denied claims that it is seeking to replace Elon Musk as CEO, following a Wall Street Journal report suggesting a quiet board-led search. Chair Robyn Denholm dismissed the story as “absolutely false,” while Musk called it a “deliberately false article.” The report comes amid sharp profit declines, falling sales, political backlash, and Musk’s increasing time in Washington under the Trump administration. While speculation swirls, Tesla’s future leadership—and Musk’s focus—remain central concerns within the company and among investors.
Gates Foundation is rattled by Trump's threat to its mission
Bill Gates' efforts to collaborate with Donald Trump on global health faltered as the Trump administration dismantled key US aid programs. The Gates Foundation, now facing political threats and scrutiny, struggles to adapt while maintaining its mission amid rising hostility toward philanthropy, DEI programs, and global health initiatives.
Duolingo CEO sparks outrage with 'AI-First' shift: Is the owl phasing out people power for automation?
Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn announced the company’s shift to an “AI-first” model, replacing contractor roles and integrating AI into hiring and performance reviews. Despite assurances of employee care, the move sparked backlash, with critics accusing the company of prioritizing automation over people. Many fear this will compromise language learning quality and undermine Duolingo’s human-centric mission.
Japan's Rakuten to invest at least $100 million in India, increase hiring, top executive says
Rakuten plans a significant expansion in India, investing at least $100 million and increasing its workforce by 8% to bolster its global operations. The internet conglomerate is leveraging AI to improve efficiency across various sectors, including fintech and e-commerce.
Google techie’s viral post sparks debate on work-life balance in big tech. Netizen says, 'you get paid more than 40 LPA'
A Hyderabad-based Google techie, Anu Sharma, sparked a viral debate on X after sharing her experience of spending four hours solving a production issue on a Sunday. She highlighted the intense pressure of being "on call" in a FAANG company, stating, "You don’t get paid for your work-life balance." The post sparked mixed reactions on work-life balance in big tech.
From flamenco to igloos: How India Inc is turning work trips into bucket list adventure
Indian companies are increasing employee travel for team building and talent retention. Travel firms like Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are seeing a rise in corporate travel. Budgets can exceed ?5 lakh per person. BFSI, auto, pharma, and tech sectors are leading this trend. Companies are planning unique experiences and exploring destinations like Azerbaijan and Australia.
The AI impact: Rethink, rework, reboot
Executives say the traditional relationship between headcount and revenue growth will no longer be linear as AI boosts employee productivity. AI is nudging the largest IT companies as well as the engineers, to go back to the drawing board and rethink skills and strategy. Prachi Verma, Himanshi Lohchab & Annapurna Roy decode
Zoho's Sridhar Vembu warns there is still a chance to protect your income before AI takes away your job
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu advises caution regarding claims of massive job displacement due to AI, citing research indicating limited current impact on the labor market. A study from Denmark reveals that despite AI adoption, productivity and job markets haven't significantly shifted. While AI tools create new tasks, users suggest focusing on upskilling and leveraging existing technologies for optimal effectiveness.
Israel's AI experiments in the war in Gaza raise ethical concerns
In the past 18 months, Israel has also combined AI with facial recognition software to match partly obscured or injured faces to real identities, turned to AI to compile potential airstrike targets, and created an Arabic-language AI model to power a chatbot that could scan and analyze text messages, social media posts and other Arabic-language data, two people with knowledge of the programs said.
Israel's AI experiments in the war in Gaza raise ethical concerns
The Gaza conflict saw rapid deployment of AI tools—from facial recognition to Arabic-language chatbots—raising both strategic advantages and ethical concerns over surveillance, misidentification, and unintended civilian harm. These technologies, developed by Unit 8200 and tech-industry reservists, mark a new era of real-time AI use in warfare, prompting urgent debate over accountability and the human cost.
Should we start taking the welfare of AI seriously?
It's hard to argue that today's AI systems are conscious. Sure, large language models have been trained to talk like humans, and some of them are extremely impressive. But can ChatGPT experience joy or suffering? Does Gemini deserve human rights? Many AI experts I know would say no, not yet, not even close.
Lateral hiring: TCS holding interviews in Bengaluru on Saturday
According to an internal email, India’s largest software exporter is looking for experienced people with a minimum of 15 years of full-time education. They must not have a gap of more than two years between education and employment. TCS is looking for people with skills in areas across My SQL DBA, Azure SME, IBM DB2, AWS SME, Oracle DBA, and DB2 Designer.
Employee quits on Day 1. Reason No. 1: No laptop allowed for work. Reason No. 2 will surprise you less
An Indian professional quit a job after just one day. The company relied on outdated methods like paper reports. Long working hours were also a concern. The employee sought advice online about the potential impact on their career. Redditors responded with support and humor. The incident highlights the importance of workplace culture fit. The employee's experience resonated with many.
Meta lays off employees in Reality Labs division: Report
While the exact number of layoffs is not yet known, these latest layoffs follow a broader round of job cuts in February, when Meta reduced its workforce by nearly 3,600 roles—about 5% of its global headcount—citing performance-related concerns. The downsising aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push to build a leaner, more agile organisation.
Should we start taking the welfare of AI seriously?
As AI systems grow more advanced, some researchers are beginning to explore whether these models could one day become conscious and deserve moral consideration. While today's AI lacks true awareness, the debate raises ethical questions about how we treat intelligent machines—even as many believe the focus should remain on protecting humans.
Elon Musk's DOGE a flop? It caused chaos rather than saving billions for Trump
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has announced he would turn his attention back to the electric vehicle maker but said he would likely still work in government as long as President Trump would have him. An advisory body created by Trump, DOGE was spearheaded by Musk to make the federal bureaucracy more efficient. It has completed 100 days.
Bhartiya Urban ventures into GCC space with Bhartiya Converge
Bhartiya Urban has introduced Bhartiya Converge, a GCC enablement platform, to streamline operations for global corporations in India. This integrated suite aims to enhance agility, efficiency, and scalable growth by addressing infrastructure, talent, and business operations.
Load More
