Days after Visa announced a 7 per cent reduction in its global workforce, employees affected by the restructuring have begun sharing details of how the layoffs unfolded, highlighting the emotional impact and uncertainty surrounding the exercise.
According to a LiveMint report, employees in India received termination emails between 4 am and 5 am on 29 July, leaving many to learn about the decision before the start of the workday. Visa has not disclosed how many employees in India were impacted, although the company has major technology and corporate operations in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Reports suggest the layoffs affected employees across technology and product teams. In one India-based team of 28 employees, 10 were reportedly laid off. Those impacted included senior leaders and long-serving employees, with some having spent nearly two decades at the company.
Employees also said severance packages differed depending on role and tenure, with notice periods ranging from 15 to 30 days.
Beyond the job losses, employees described the psychological impact of the restructuring. One employee who was not laid off but lost their manager said the atmosphere at work had changed significantly, adding that seeing vacant desks had created anxiety among the remaining workforce.
The layoffs come as Visa expands the use of artificial intelligence across its operations. While announcing the restructuring, the company said the move was intended to improve efficiency and position the business for future growth, with AI expected to play a larger role in automating tasks and supporting operations.
The latest accounts from employees highlight the human impact of large-scale restructuring, even as organisations increasingly adopt AI to reshape business operations. The developments also reflect growing concerns among employees about job security as companies continue to invest in automation and AI-driven transformation.
