Has India Today Group laid off around 120 employees?

The India Today Group has reportedly laid off around 120 employees as part of a restructuring exercise carried out between 20 July and 24  July. According to a report by Newslaundry, the job cuts were implemented without prior notice and affected employees across multiple editorial and support functions.

The largest impact is said to have been on the group’s Hindi digital platform. Employees from departments including camera operations, video editing, graphics, fact-checking, the data intelligence unit, Aaj Tak Radio and other teams were also among those affected.

As per the report, several employees were informed about the decision only minutes before the end of their work shifts. One employee told Newslaundry that they were called into an HR meeting at the company’s Noida office and informed that it would be their last working day. The employee was reportedly asked to submit a resignation along with the company-issued laptop and identity card. When they sought an explanation, they were told the decision was part of an organisational restructuring and was not linked to their performance.

The layoffs, as per reports, impacted employees across different experience levels. Some had recently joined the organisation, while others had spent more than two years with the company. Several employees earning monthly salaries between ?25,000 and ?30,000 were also among those who have been let go. The report further claimed that employees who agreed to resign received two months’ salary, while those who did not were offered two months’ basic pay before being asked to leave.

The reported workforce reduction comes as the media company has witnessed a significant decline in its financial performance. In the previous financial year, its net profit reportedly fell by 81 per cent to about ?14 crore, while revenue declined by 19 per cent to nearly ?807 crore. Reports attributed the fall to weaker advertising revenue, restructuring expenses and losses in the group’s radio business.

The layoffs also affected several long-serving employees, including individuals who had spent more than a decade with the organisation, say reports. An official statement or confirmation is awaited.