Imagine logging into your workday, ready to tackle the challenges ahead, and suddenly being told your job is gone in a mere three-minute video call. This shocking reality hit an Indian employee at a US-based company, sparking outrage and empathy online.

On October 1st, the employee sat down for what he thought was just another ordinary day. Little did he know, a calendar invite for an 11 a.m. meeting would change everything. The mandatory call with the COO was unlike any other. As he joined the meeting, cameras were disabled, and mics silenced, creating an eerie atmosphere. With little fanfare, the COO delivered the gut-wrenching news: “they had made the difficult decision of letting most of their Indian workforce go.” This wasn’t a reflection of poor performance; it was simply a cold, corporate restructuring.

As the conversation ended abruptly, the employee was left with more questions than answers, instructed to wait for an email about their job status. The emotional toll of this three-minute interaction left the workforce feeling “shocked, stunned, frustrated, stressed.” The layoff came with a consolation prize of October’s salary and encashed leave, but as the employee poignantly expressed, “none of it even remotely makes up for what I’m feeling right now.” This was his first layoff, and it hit hard.

The virality of his post ignited a storm of discussions, with some users offering support and others doubting the authenticity of his experience. It was not just an isolated incident; similar stories surfaced, including that of Ananya Joshi, who faced her own emotional farewell after being laid off from a job she loved following her graduation in Biotechnology from Northwestern University. Navigating the challenging waters of the F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, she found herself grappling with the reality of being forced to leave the country due to downsizing and a competitive job market. Her tearful video farewell to America echoed the sentiments of many who have faced unjust layoffs.

This heart-wrenching saga is not merely a tale of job loss; it highlights the precarious nature of employment in today's corporate landscape, where lives can be altered in mere moments without warning.